Athens Responds to Turkey’s Harassment of Dendias – Ankara’s Provocative Remark

The Turkish radio harassment of the aircraft carrying Defence Minister Nikos Dendias to Cyprus for the EU Defence Ministers’ meeting, as well as the aircraft transporting the French and Dutch delegations, once again confirms that Turkey is disturbing otherwise calm waters.

More specifically, it highlights that the defence assistance provided not only by Greece but also by other European states to Cyprus against drone attacks launched by Hezbollah is causing irritation in Ankara. The issue gained particular significance because it prompted, at Greece’s initiative, a discussion on activating Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty — the mutual assistance clause requiring all member states to aid a fellow member under attack.

Mr Dendias briefed his European counterparts on the Turkish harassment directed at his aircraft after Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas raised the matter during the meeting. The interference reportedly came via radio transmissions originating from the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. Reports also indicated that Turkish F-16 fighter jets stationed in the occupied territories were scrambled.

Meanwhile, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated that the relevant ministries would decide on any further actions, stressing:

“We unequivocally condemn this specific incident, and any behaviour that deviates from international law cannot be tolerated.”

Turkey on Dendias: His aircraft was not harassed by Turkish fighter jets

At the same time, the Turkish Presidency issued a statement commenting on the aircraft incident.

The statement, which does not address the alleged radio interference from the “control tower” of the illegal Tymbou (Ercan) airport in occupied Cyprus, instead claims there was a violation of the “airspace” of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (TRNC). It also states that two Turkish F-16s were scrambled and flew “over the airspace of the TRNC” and “did not violate the airspace of the Greek Cypriot Administration.”

Full statement from the Turkish Presidency

“Claims circulating in certain media outlets and social media accounts that ‘Turkish aircraft harassed the plane carrying Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and European ministers, and that Turkish aircraft violated Greek airspace’ are completely false.

On 7 June 2026, four of the six aircraft operating on the Greece–Southern Cyprus route violated the airspace of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)’. Consequently, two Turkish F-16 aircraft performing air traffic control duties and stationed in the ‘TRNC’ immediately took off as a precautionary measure.

The aircraft flew within the airspace of the TRNC and did not violate the airspace of the Greek Cypriot Administration (Republic of Cyprus). No harassment of the aforementioned aircraft took place.

Furthermore, all flights conducted on 6 June 2026 as part of the 115th anniversary of the Air Force Command and the ‘Youth and Aviation Festival’ were carried out within the designated flight area of the 2nd Main Jet Base Command. Greek airspace was not violated in any way.

We strongly urge the public not to lend credibility to these claims, which are being made with the aim of manipulating international public opinion and creating provocations.”