Vaggelis Sarakinos: Rift between the PM’s Office and the Foreign Ministry – Dendias raises the bar for Mitsotakis

Nikos Dendias has made  the change in his attitude towards Turkish aggression and consequently in the way the EU treats Ankara, even more obvious. For the second time in twenty-four hours, the Foreign Minister is using more direct language not only as regards Turkey, but also Germany on the issue of imposing European sanctions.

It is noteworthy, however, that a hardening of Dendias’s rhetoric does not correspond to a similar hardening of rhetoric from the PM’s office, which indirectly but clearly confirms the information that there is a growing divergence of views with the prime ministerial environment. This dimension that is not only purely political, but also psychological, as the Mitsotakis-Dendia relations – according to well-informed sources – are becoming colder.

Two days ago we wrote that something is changing in Athens regarding its position on Turkey within the EU and we pointed out the fact that Dendias raises the tones of criticism towards Berlin and all the member states that follow it, something to which he has not familiarized us. At that time, we did not have in mind his interview with Politico. The foreign minister had only spoken to Bloomberg, stressing that “Europe cannot pretend that Turkey is acting in an acceptable way in the region.”

But he did not stop there. He noted that at times “the EU has allowed Turkey to draw the wrong conclusions”. Referring to the arms embargo requested by Greece, he placed Berlin in the frame for the first time, stressing that “Germany has the mechanisms to stop the export of weapons to countries that are going to turn them against two EU members”.

Dendias: Barbs against Berlin

But two and a half hours after those statements, Dendias struck again. This time with statements to the American Politico. Not only did he repeat his criticism of the European stance, but he also became even more acerbic towards Germany. Leaving aside the fact that both of his interviews were given to the American media (the “winds of Biden” seem to be already blowing in the Eastern Mediterranean), we hold as a common denominator the expression of criticism towards the EU and especially its escalation in terms of Germany.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Dendias simply pointed out that “Germany, as the largest country and economy in the EU, has the control and balance mechanisms to stop arms exports” to Turkey. Politico, however, has indirectly argued that Berlin is not living up to its EU leadership when it rejects Athens’ calls for an arms embargo on Turkey.

“I can not understand Germany’s reluctance to use the enormous power of its economy to set a clear example that countries must obey international law,” he said, referring to the economic dimension. That is to say, German interests, which, as we have repeatedly written, are the brake on the imposition of sanctions on Turkey.

In an interview with Politico, Dendias spared no criticism, calling Germany’s stance a “definition of contradiction” and, in particular, the fact that it “provides offensive weapons to a country that threatens the peace and stability of two EU countries.” Referring to the embargo, he stressed that the Greek government should not even put it, but Germany “should realize on its own” that its practice “is not compatible with its role in Europe.”

Something is going on at the PM’s Office at the Maximos Mansion

In an argument unprecedented under the current government, the foreign minister called on EU leaders at the forthcoming summit to send a clear message to Turkey. He also notes that if the leaders do the same as they did in October, even if the “Oruts Reyes” eventually leaves, “it would mean that they have not learned their lesson”. He characteristically characterizes such a development as “naivety”.

This change of attitude of Dendias has not been supported, so far, by Maximou, a fact that reinforces the information about a difference of opinion. The Foreign Minister, in fact, indirectly but clearly distances himself from the Prime Minister’s handling. This concerns the crucial issue of the military alliance with France, which has been linked to the purchase of the Belharra frigates, but also the issue of convening the Multilateral Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, which is persistently promoted by Josep Borrell, and was agreed upon, without consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by Mitsotakis at the October Summit.

After all, it is not only these two incidents that show the differences between the PM’s office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Similar phenomena have been observed in other, but less important, issues. However, in the case of the climate in the relations between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the case of Mania Telalian is typical.

Dendias had dismissed her in the spring from the head of the Legal Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but Mitsotakis placed her in his staff, appointing her in the position of advisor. The bad thing, however, is that the rift that separates the two just two weeks before the crucial Summit, is deepening in a way that may affect the effectiveness of Greek intervention there.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that there is information that the so-called “Staff State”, the “small White House” created by the Prime Minister at the Maximos Mansion – also according to reliable information – seems to be bypassing the Minister of Defense, who is also an institutional pillar in handling of national issues.

As has been seen from a number of events, the Maximos Mansion environment tends to bypass the minister and consult directly with the Chief of General Staff. And because this has been realized, even foreign factors, such as e.g. US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Cooper turns to the Chief of the General Staff and not to the Secretary. This is despite the fact that Nikos Panagiotopoulos is a low-profile politician who, in his public statements, is limited to the issues of his portfolio.

It is commonplace, after all, that the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs must be in close and uninterrupted alliance with the Prime Minister’s Office. This is much more true for Greece, which is facing a national security problem, especially in the current critical period, when Turkish aggression has turned red, without anyone being able to rule out a military adventure on the part of Ankara.