The geopolitical chessboard of the Eastern Mediterranean is changing rapidly. What prevailed until recently—silos, exclusions, a rhetoric of distancing—is gradually being set aside by a new reality: the need for cooperation, dialogue, and the pursuit of stability in a wider region that has experienced decades of conflict and tension.
Within this dynamic, certain regional players are redefining their role. They no longer settle for crisis management; they aim to prevent crises. They are not content to trail behind; they seek initiatives that earn international recognition. At the same time, major powers choose to maintain a footprint in the region without direct presence, favoring models of diplomatic mediation and local agreements. This transition favors partnerships and demands readiness.
Europe—perhaps more at a loss than ever in the face of such swift shifts in the balance—is called to adapt. It now understands that a security architecture cannot be designed without those who possess operational capacity, political will, and proximity to events.
In this setting, Greece must be present—not as a mere observer or traditional ally, but as a force that can actively contribute to stability, co-shape policies, and strengthen its role as a bridge between Europe, the East, and the South.
In this context, engagement with Turkey is not an act of concession; it is an act of strategic foresight. Regardless of their differences, the two countries share an interest in stabilizing the region, managing migration, advancing energy interconnection, and countering hybrid threats. They need not agree on everything to cooperate where necessity dictates.
On the contrary, the time has come to remove—formally—the threat of casus belli from the table. Keeping it merely as a symbol of hardline rhetoric carries no real weight in today’s geopolitical landscape. On the contrary, it stands in the way of any sincere effort to restart dialogue and build trust. The political courage to lift such anachronistic threats is a sign of maturity and strength—not weakness.
Resolving the Cyprus issue must hold a central place in this strategic redefinition. Historically and geopolitically, Cyprus is the natural point of convergence for broader interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. A viable and broadly acceptable solution would not only benefit the island’s two communities; it would also be a stabilizing factor, strengthen cooperation on energy and security, and decisively help restore trust in the region.
National sovereignty is safeguarded neither by passivity nor by sterile confrontations. It is safeguarded when a country knows how to leverage the realities of the times to its advantage. Today, Greece has the opportunity to become a pillar of stability and a model of understanding in a period of realignment.
The question is not whether the world around us is changing. The question is whether we are ready to change as well—with seriousness, responsibility, and a strategic plan.