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Speaking to Ta Nea Weekend<\/strong> during The Economist\u2019s 30th Athens Government Roundtable<\/strong>, Davutoglu argued that Turkey\u2019s primary security concerns are centred on the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Black Sea<\/strong>, rather than Greece.<\/p>\n He also called for a \u201cnew understanding\u201d in Greek-Turkish relations, saying the two countries should move beyond decades of mutual suspicion.<\/p>\n Despite his conciliatory remarks, Davutoglu reiterated Turkey\u2019s opposition to Greece\u2019s right to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 nautical miles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n He argued that no international map or legal framework supports the idea that the Aegean belongs entirely to Greece and rejected comparisons between Turkey\u2019s long-standing dispute with Greece and recent tensions within NATO over Greenland.<\/p>\n Davutoglu also disputed the description of Turkey\u2019s 1995 parliamentary resolution<\/strong> as a casus belli<\/em>, claiming the term itself does not appear in the text.<\/p>\n He maintained that if Greece wants Ankara to withdraw the resolution, Athens should first abandon its intention to extend its territorial waters and instead return to negotiations.<\/p>\n Reflecting on the recent NATO Summit in Ankara, Davutoglu described the meeting as a diplomatic success for Turkey.<\/p>\n He argued that Ankara\u2019s strategic importance has grown significantly because of its geographic position bordering both Iran<\/strong> and Ukraine<\/strong>, placing the country at the centre of several major international crises.<\/p>\n He also criticised recent US strikes against Iran, saying they were carried out without adequate consultation among NATO allies.<\/p>\n Davutoglu said it remains too soon to determine whether Turkey will rejoin the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter<\/strong> programme.<\/p>\n He said Turkey has every right to seek readmission, noting that he strongly supported Ankara\u2019s original participation while serving as prime minister.<\/p>\n While acknowledging that US President Donald Trump<\/strong> recently said no final decision had been made, Davutoglu argued that negotiations continue behind closed doors and suggested recent comments questioning sanctions on Turkey could indicate progress.<\/p>\n He also rejected suggestions that Turkish acquisition of F-35 fighter jets should be viewed as a threat to Greece.<\/p>\n \u201cGreece is at the bottom of Turkey\u2019s list of adversaries,\u201d Davutoglu said, adding that ordinary Turks do not regard Greece as an enemy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The former Turkish leader said the framework for resolving bilateral disputes already exists through the exploratory talks launched while he served as foreign minister.<\/p>\n According to Davutoglu, the main obstacle remains Greece\u2019s insistence on extending its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles.<\/p>\n He argued that the Aegean should become \u201ca sea of cooperation and shared prosperity\u201d rather than confrontation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Calls for renewed dialogue<\/h3>\n