Turkish Foreign Policy and Regional Geopolitics

[Eşbah]

Interesting question.

Well there's two categories: The common people and the people who are into defence and military stuff. The common people usually don't know much about defence stuff. They might think he's a great Minister of Defence or politician in general. Or they may just simply not like him.

The people who are into defence stuff and geopolitics,they just consider him a buffoon. At the very least a sneaky politician. Usually the comments on Greek defence websites are filled with negative remarks about him and his pompous long speeches and the ability to talk a lot without actually saying something.

For example he said:

"We are marching towards the most powerful Armed Forces our motherland has ever had in its centuries-long history".

Now,take a moment to think how ridiculous that quote sounds. Not just because of the current affairs,but think that a country like Greece with more than 5,000 years of history...Classical Greece,Hellenistic period,Byzantine Empire,Balkan Wars and 1940 and this guy comes and says "We'll have the strongest Armed Forces in our history" and things like "we'll have some of the most powerful frigates in the world" or "we're building a navy that will be good for the Eastern Mediterranean and maybe even more than that!"

He has a reputation for being extremely reluctant to order anything,despite talking big about purchases. On one hand he keeps mentioning how we will buy this and that,on the other hand,he complains that we have no money.

He was considered a relatively good Foreign Minister,but now those who read about defence matters and geopolitics,know he is a very bad MoD. At least incompetent.
The rumor was that Mitsotakis replaced the previous MoD with Dendias,because supposedly Dendias had high ambitions for the party hierarchy. That's what they say on greek sites.

Generally,New Democracy has lost a big part of its voters with controversial decisions, policies and plainly infuriating a lot of people with scandals.

I visited several Greek defense sites after his speech, and it's interesting to note that there are quite a few for a country like Greece. Opinions about him are quite divided. Some people praise him as one of the best Minister of Defense Greece has ever had, while others criticize him for lacking understanding of U.S. policy in our area.

I must say, I checked out a few profiles of users who were critical of Dendias, and as a Turkish person, I think that these individuals seem to have a better grasp of international politics. They appear to have a more realistic perspective on the entire situation.

 

[Foinikas]

I believe so as well, he yaps more than his Prime Minister and Foreign Minister combined.

He's a "career politician",I think. Big talk,smiles and long speeches. A lot of Greeks say he still behaves as if he's the Foreign Minister.

From summer 2023 up to now,he keeps talking about creating centers of research and innovation for the Armed Forces,developing the Hellenic defence industry,cooperation with countries like France...and the irony,whenever a greek company produces something interesting it's like "no thanx". Some of the dumb things he's said were "we will co-design and co-produce the Constellation class" or we'll create a Greek Iron Dome,a Greek AA dome and an anti-drone dome(which he mentioned will have 3-4 layers or systems). However,he mentioned we only have 2 billion euros for the Air Defence.

So everyone is saying,this whole "AA dome" is just a fancy term for the common people and it basically means we'll replace some obsolete systems. Then there was another phrase: Missile wall in Aegean.

He even said we'll make our own indigenous frigate!

Keeps reminding of this scene from the Downfall(but remember,this meme could be used for Erdogan as well )

 

[hyperman]

A lot of Greeks say he still behaves as if he's the Foreign Minister.

Oh I think he thinks he is Prime Minister, It was very interesting for me to notice, it wasn't Mitsotakis who summoned the French Ambassador, as is diplomatic protocol, or even the Foreign Minister, this guy summoned her.

 

[Foinikas]

Oh I think he thinks he is Prime Minister, I was very interesting for me to notice, it was Mitsotakis who summoned the French Ambassador, as is diplomatic protocol, or even the Foreign Minister, this guy summoned her.

There are other candidates for the party leadership as well right now. That's the difference with the Turkish establishment. No matter how corrupted some Turkish politicians are and how much money they make out of deals here and there,they always put the best of the country first.

Here,they just put their political career first,their pocket second and if there's any profit for the country THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED POLITICALLY,ok.

 

[Sinan]

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Greek Media is saying Macron told Mitsotakis blocking the sale was impractical as the missile is produced by a six-nation consortium. lol

Greeks make so much fuss about meteor missile because they have it and Turkey don't.

Our ex-generals explained it so many times. Greece can only use it airforce for a single sortie (assuming Greeks do a surprise attack).

Hundreds of balistic missiles will land on their airports and render them useless. Then TuAF going to bomb all Greek Airports to oblivion.

Doesn't matter that if they have meteor, F-35, F-22 or millenium falcon.

 

[hyperman]

There are other candidates for the party leadership as well right now. That's the difference with the Turkish establishment. No matter how corrupted some Turkish politicians are and how much money they make out of deals here and there,they always put the best of the country first.

Here,they just put their political career first,their pocket second and if there's any profit for the country THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED POLITICALLY,ok.

Mitsotakis should get rid of this guy, he is not just a threat to him politically domestically by showing him up doing stunts like the french ambassador summoning, this guy is bad for Greece externally, all he does is Yap and piss people off. Get you a quiet technocrat who stays quiet and does the world and doesn't cause incidents for his own PR.

 

[Eşbah]

lmao, i just read the full article, this dude is worse than I thought.

He is pulling out all the tropes, randomly talking about Women's Rights, and then talking about how Turkey is Muslim unlike Greece.

This dude... he is using ever orientalist trope in book and straight up bigotry to try to get Western Support against Turkey. I wonder if he tell the same story when he tries to build "Greece Egypt ties" or the recent "Greece Saudi" Ties.

They feed one type of messaging when they court one country against Turkey and another type of messaging when they court another. lol

Türkiye is experiencing a positive shift after a long period of challenges.

The economy is improving, Syria is making progress, Iran is in a weaker position, and Russia's actions are causing the Euros to value Türkiye more. Additionally, regions like Africa, the GCC, and Central and Southeast Asia are becoming key areas for Türkiye's foreign diplomacy. Exports are rising, and our defense technology has advanced significantly, even convincing some of the most skeptical Western nations to purchase Turkish military equipment.

As usual, the British were quick to recognize this change and are eager to collaborate closely with us. With the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the EU, it's clear why everyone and their mother are looking to strengthen their ties with Türkiye.

The French are also shifting their perspective, much to the annoyance of the Greeks.

Our neighbours are quite adept at noticing gradual tectonic shifts, and as anticipated, they do their utmost to prevent changes that might benefit the Turks.

I genuinely believe that the upcoming decade could transform Turkey into a true global powerhouse if we remain focused. However, I tend to be a bit pessimistic by nature, and I still recognize several major challenges that must be tackled and resolved.

 

[Sinan]

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Just listened to beginning. He was saying in WW1 Turkey was in the Axis camp and didn't joined WW2....

By going this logic, US should also be against Germany because they fought against it in WW2.

Also when do these Greeks will ever learn that they are not an Island but a continental country which has islands. Don't even international laws but keep parroting same words as if they are fooling anybody.

 

[hyperman]

Türkiye is experiencing a positive shift after a long period of challenges.

The economy is improving, Syria is making progress, Iran is in a weaker position, and Russia's actions are causing the Euros to value Türkiye more. Additionally, regions like Africa, the GCC, and Central and Southeast Asia are becoming key areas for Türkiye's foreign diplomacy. Exports are rising, and our defense technology has advanced significantly, even convincing some of the most skeptical Western nations to purchase Turkish military equipment.

As usual, the British were quick to recognize this change and are eager to collaborate closely with us. With the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the EU, it's clear why everyone and their mother are looking to strengthen their ties with Türkiye.

The French are also shifting their perspective, much to the annoyance of the Greeks.

Our neighbours are quite adept at noticing gradual tectonic shifts, and as anticipated, they do their utmost to prevent changes that might benefit the Turks.

I genuinely believe that the upcoming decade could transform Turkey into a true global powerhouse if we remain focused. However, I tend to be a bit pessimistic by nature, and I still recognize several major challenges that must be tackled and resolved.

Still a few loose ends. The PKK needs to dealt with in Syria decisively. Iraq needs work. Lets see how this Ocalan disbandment thing goes, if they don't listen then Operations will be needed.

After things settle down in Syria, then other elements can be worked on.

Defense Industry is doing well, lots of projects nearing completion, exports i think can be much higher.

 

[Oublious]

Just listened to beginning. He was saying in WW1 Turkey was in the Axis camp and didn't joined WW2....

By going this logic, US should also be against Germany because they fought against it in WW2.

Also when do these Greeks will ever learn that they are not an Island but a continental country which has islands. Don't even international laws but keep parroting same words as if they are fooling anybody.

Somebody should remember the clown that USA did not recognize unclos self, so who is complaining to who?

 

[Foinikas]

Mitsotakis should get rid of this guy, he is not just a threat to him politically domestically by showing him up doing stunts like the french ambassador summoning, this guy is bad for Greece externally, all he does is Yap and piss people off. Get you a quiet technocrat who stays quiet and does the world and doesn't cause incidents for his own PR.

I don't know what's going on in ND right now because Mitsotakis too has done a lot of dumb things that made him unpopular with many hundreds of thousands of ND voters.

Ah let me tell @Eşbah Gerapetritis is very very unpopular by people here as well. Apart from being considered too soft towards Turkish demands or whatever,he is considered to guy with no charisma for this position.

I don't know if you guys have heard about it,but there's big reactions by people concerning the train accident two years ago. Do Turkish channels talk about it at all? There's a huge wave of discontent with Mitsotakis and the government about the way they handled it.

 

[hyperman]

Apart from being considered too soft towards Turkish demands

What demand did he give into? they never explain this.

What the Greeks want is some blowhard who curses at Turkey and bad mouths Turkey beats his chest with no results, other than pissing Turks off. Gerapetritis is polite and prefers to have discussions and dialogue and work in a constructive way, so they think this is "weakness".

Let me tell you, Fidan is very much like Gerapetritis, he is soft spoken and prefers to do things politely and in closed door meetings, and Dendias is more like Çavuşoğlu, throwing bombs. For some reason people think one is "more effective" than the other, but not if you ask me.

 

[hodor]

24 agreements signed between the two countries in the presence of President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Sharif

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[Foinikas]

What demand did he give into? they never explain this.

I might explain this some day,right now I'm too lazy to write down the whole story and c/p info

What the Greeks want is some blowhard who curses at Turkey and bad mouths Turkey beats his chest with no results, other than pissing Turks off.

No,no you're wrong. I've told you before it's nothing like that. And what you think about Dendias when his was Foreign Minister,was wrong. We don't want someone who will go out and say "We'll reach Istanbul in 3 hours" or "we'll sink all of their ships if they come closer" etc.

We want someone who will reply to provocative rhetoric the same way. Back in 2020-2022 we had Erdogan,Cavusoglu and Akar and occasionaly Oktay and Bahceli say things that are unacceptable in the world scene. They used to say things like "Eeey Yunan,if you don't behave,we will teach you a lesson" or "These islands belong to us" or "We will throw you to the see,just like your ancestors" or "We will come one night,suddenly..."

When you have such provocative language,then you need someone that can reply to such language. Not with the same threats,but with some balls. Dendias,used to do that back then. Gerapetritis has this passive behavior,talks like a bot,no presence.

Let me tell you, Fidan is very much like Gerapetritis, he is soft spoken and prefers to do things politely and in closed door meetings,

I think Fidan is way more active,more vocal,has more presence and charisma.

 

[hyperman]

No,no you're wrong. I've told you before it's nothing like that. And what you think about Dendias when his was Foreign Minister,was wrong. We don't want someone who will go out and say "We'll reach Istanbul in 3 hours" or "we'll sink all of their ships if they come closer" etc.

We want someone who will reply to provocative rhetoric the same way. Back in 2020-2022 we had Erdogan,Cavusoglu and Akar and occasionaly Oktay and Bahceli say things that are unacceptable in the world scene. They used to say things like "Eeey Yunan,if you don't behave,we will teach you a lesson" or "These islands belong to us" or "We will throw you to the see,just like your ancestors" or "We will come one night,suddenly..."

When you have such provocative language,then you need someone that can reply to such language. Not with the same threats,but with some balls. Dendias,used to do that back then. Gerapetritis has this passive behavior,talks like a bot,no presence.

Thats not what I mean, what Dendias is doing is constantly badmouthing Turkey and antagonizing Turkey. You have a misreading, its the antagonism that triggers reaction, some little minion yapping and then you decide ok, this mofo needs to be taught a lesson for his insolence.

Mind you, this yapping has been completely ineffective as Greece has been outmaneuvered at every step and there has been no significant change, if anything the momentum is going the other way, where Greece's allies ignore Greece and carry on doing whats in their own interests.

Like right now, he goes to Washington completely unprovoked and starts bad mouthing Turkey and even uses Anti Muslim tropes and BS, will it have any effect policy wise? probably not, but it did infuriate people in Turkey. Shit like Greece Cares about "women's rights", Turkey is Islamic etc etc. OMG they supported the Central Powers in WW1, like WTF is this BS. It's not gonna have any effect but it pisses people off in Turkey, right after there was a meeting with the foreign ministers that was generally viewed as positive and constructive, there has not been any incidents between Greece and Turkey for a while, and this guy starts throwing attacks as a defense minister(seriously he is out of pocket, he thinks he is Prime Minister or Foreign Minister)

You know you have pist people off in Turkey when someone like Ragip Soylu who is hardly a "nationalist" or anything like that is annoyed and confused with Dendias.

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I will remind you that this country was an ally of the Central Powers in World War I, was neutral when the Democracies fought in World War II, did not participate in any way and did not even allow the use of its territory during the wars in Iraq.

is turning more towards Islam day by day, is opening thousands of Islamic schools
It is a potential member of the BRICS.

Then he goes and starts talking about Greece

A country with a rich, ancient, democratic heritage, which has significantly influenced the Founding Fathers and the US Constitution.

women's rights

Like WTF is this nonsense? lol