Tensions between Türkiye and Greece escalated following a tour undertaken by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on September 11–13, 2026. He visited Greek islands located in the Mediterranean—very close to the Turkish border—to inspect Greek forces stationed there, particularly the Island of Meis (Kastellorizo), which lies just two kilometers from the Turkish coast. His visit revealed the presence of soldiers on islands designated as demilitarized zones, prompting Türkiye to respond by deploying troops to adjacent areas.

Greece was conquered by the Ottomans and governed under Islamic justice for approximately 400 years.

Britain, France, and Russia eventually conspired against the Uthmani Khilafah (Ottoman Caliphate), waging war until they drove it out of Greece and granted the country independence in 1830. However, many islands remained under Ottoman control until World War I.

In the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, Mustafa Kemal—the man who dismantled the Khilafah (Caliphate) and the Shariah—ceded those islands to Greece, accepting only the islands that Britain and France had allocated to Türkiye. It is worth noting that some of these islands are situated as far as 600 kilometers from the Greek mainland yet lie within just two kilometers of the Turkish coast in the Aegean Sea. The Aegean comprises approximately 1,800 islands, islets, and rocky formations; of these, 100 are inhabited, and 24 have an area exceeding 100 square kilometers. The disputes center on the following issues:

-   The status of many islands remains undecided; Türkiye lays claim to them, while Greece rejects these claims, recognizing only the rights Türkiye was granted under the Treaty of Lausanne.

-   The dispute concerns the islands known as the "Dodecanese Islands" (literally "Twelve Islands"), which actually comprise fourteen islands, in addition to ten smaller islets and rocky formations.

-   Disputes over maritime boundaries, with Greece seeking to extend its territorial waters to twelve miles—a move Türkiye opposes.

-   Disputes regarding the militarization of the islands—specifically, what is termed "Greece's violation of the non-military status of the Eastern Aegean islands." Türkiye objects to the Greek military presence on these islands—which lie in close proximity to the Turkish coast—viewing it as a violation of the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty, which mandates the demilitarization of the islands; Greece, conversely, justifies the presence by citing security threats.

-   The Cyprus issue: The island is divided; Greece supports the internationally recognized southern Greek sector and seeks to incorporate the northern sector—where the “State of Northern Cyprus” was declared—into it. This northern entity is recognized and protected by Türkiye, which maintains a garrison of approximately 30,000 troops there.

-    The electrical interconnection project between Greece and the Greek sector of Cyprus; Türkiye demands that its approval be sought regarding this matter and related issues.

-   Military cooperation between Greece and the Jewish entity: The region has witnessed joint naval maneuvers between the two parties. On August 31, 2026, an agreement was announced to establish an air defense system project named "Achilles' Shield."

Greece tends to highlight its disputes with Türkiye and flex its muscles, particularly when facing internal issues or domestic challenges. With general elections scheduled for the first half of the coming year, the Greek Prime Minister visited Greek islands situated in very close proximity to the Turkish border in the Mediterranean—including the island of Meis, located just 2 km from the Turkish coast. During the visit, he revealed the presence of Greek troops on the island, despite treaties between the two nations prohibiting a military presence there.

Greece challenges Türkiye by bolstering its defensive capabilities and military infrastructure on the Aegean islands, violating treaties, and seeking to expand its maritime boundaries; it does so because it realizes that, despite all this, Türkiye has not previously taken serious military action against it.

This is despite the fact that both states are allies within the same military alliance, under American command. However, in 2020, France—the other partner in the alliance—attempted to embolden Greece against Türkiye; it deployed naval assets and conducted joint military exercises in a bid to establish its own influence. Yet, the United States intervened, pressured Greece, and announced it would not provide material or political support for the gas pipeline Greece intended to build—in partnership with the Jewish entity—to supply Europe. Consequently, France’s plans were thwarted, and the project collapsed.

Erdogan’s Türkiye operates within America’s orbit, serving its interests and acting abroad only in coordination with it; thus, it relies on the U.S. in its conflict with Greece, awaiting American cues on how to proceed. Türkiye mobilized in Syria, Libya, and Azerbaijan when instructed by the U.S., yet it failed to act to aid the people of Gaza—who are enduring ongoing genocide at the hands of the Jews—because America forbade it, citing the need to prevent the war from expanding. President Trump even praised Türkiye for refraining from intervention while the Jewish entity bombarded Iran for over forty days.

The United States seeks to consolidate its influence in Greece, expanding and reinforcing its military bases on Greek islands with additional troops and equipment. Consequently, it does not want Türkiye to escalate tensions with Greece; instead, it pushes for reconciliation, ensuring that officials from both nations meet to defuse tensions whenever friction arises.

Greece fears the United States and relies on European support—given its EU membership—particularly from France, a country known for formulating ad-hoc policies based on shifting circumstances and the whims of its leaders, only to subsequently abandon them. It previously backed down when it supported Greece against Türkiye—following a move by the United States. Consequently, Greece’s threats remain confined within specific limits; it lacks the capacity for a military confrontation with Türkiye, and the Greeks fear the Turks. Had Türkiye’s rulers possessed the genuine, independent will, courage, and sincerity characteristics of Ottoman conquerors like Muhammad Al-Fatih and Suleiman Al-Qanooni, they would have moved to seize control of these islands.

The United States will not abandon Greece, regardless of its political situation, because it is the Western state directly bordering the Muslim lands of the Eastern Mediterranean, serving as a vital Western base. It is reinforcing its military presence on the islands—perhaps as a contingency measure should the political landscape in Türkiye shift, forcing the U.S. to close its bases and withdraw its troops. The U.S. fears such a scenario, given that the people of Türkiye are Muslims, among whom are sincere individuals striving for radical change and the re-establishment of the second Khilafah Rashidah (rightly-guided Caliphate) on the method of the Prophethood.