Varoufakis: “Greece Has Become an Israeli Satellite” as He Praises Türkiye’s Position
By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has sharply criticised Athens’ foreign policy direction, arguing that Greece has aligned too closely with Israel while taking a markedly different view of Türkiye’s regional positioning.
Speaking to Hürriyet in an interview published on 21 March, Varoufakis said Greece had effectively lost strategic autonomy in its Middle East posture. “We have become an Israeli satellite,” he said, placing Israel at the center of his criticism of Greek foreign policy.
His remarks come at a moment of heightened regional tension following the escalation triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the subsequent spread of conflict across the Gulf and Eastern Mediterranean.
Varoufakis contrasted Greece’s position with that of Türkiye, arguing that Ankara has managed the crisis with greater strategic flexibility. “Türkiye acted smartly,” he said, pointing to a calibrated approach that avoids direct entanglement while maintaining diplomatic maneuverability.
The contrast reflects a broader divide in regional alignment. Greece has deepened defence and political cooperation with Israel in recent years, particularly in energy, air defence and security coordination. That relationship has taken on additional visibility during the current crisis, even as Athens has avoided direct military involvement in the Gulf theatre.
Türkiye, by comparison, has kept open channels with multiple actors while opposing the war and avoiding entry into it. Varoufakis’ remarks frame that difference as a question of strategic independence rather than short-term positioning.
His assessment is likely to resonate unevenly in Greece, where the government presents cooperation with Israel as part of a wider security architecture, while critics question the long-term cost of that alignment.
***Source: Hürriyet interview with Yanis Varoufakis, published 21 March 2026