Greek leader says armed conflict with Turkey won’t happen

By COSTAS KANTOURIS
Associated Press

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister says he cannot imagine that tensions with neighboring NATO ally Turkey could ever escalate into armed conflict. A recent escalation in rhetoric from Turkey has been led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Asked by The Associated Press if that could be the prelude to an armed conflict, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said no. He says “I don’t believe this will ever happen. And if, God forbid, it happened, Turkey would receive an absolutely devastating response, and I think they know it very well.” Erdogan has accused Greece of occupying supposedly demilitarized islands in the Aegean Sea and threatened action. Mitsotakis said he was still open to dialogue with Turkey and a meeting with Erdogan.