Evangelos Apostolakis

After Ankara launched an offshore drill for gas in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over Turkish violations.
"We must not be concerned over developments [in the region], said Apostolakis, adding that Athens had taken a series of actions "to prevent [Turkish] activities in Cyprus' EEZ."

Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis on Monday ruled out the likelihood of a confrontation between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean, saying that such an escalation would not be in Ankara's interest.

Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis will not run in the upcoming general election, the leftist government said in a statement on Sunday.
The decision was made so that Apostolakis, a former chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), "is able to fulfill his national duty as political head of the Armed Forces, undistracted."

A fully functional replica of a 5th century BC Athenian trireme, the "Olympias," is seen in the Saronic Gulf off the southern coast of Athens during an inspection on Friday of the Hellenic Navy fleet by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis and other senior officials.

As tension escalates in the Eastern Mediterranean amid Turkey's intention to begin offshore drilling operations in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt has reiterated Washington's commitment to its alliance with Athens.

Comments last week by Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who drew parallels between Moscow's "unsafe and unprofessional" behavior following the near-collision between US and Russian warships in the Philippine Sea and Turkey's moves in the Eastern Mediterranean, pointed to something much more profound and significant than the usual occasional statements.

With concerns rising about a possible "incident" in the Eastern Mediterranean or Aegean, Ankara appears to be stepping up its efforts to entrench its presence in the region.

The drillship Fatih is already in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Turkish authorities have indicated that a second vessel, the Yavuz, will also be dispatched to the region in due course.

WASHINGTON - The US ponder their next diplomatic moves towards Turkey, as they share the concern of Athens about the aggression of its neighbor in Cyprus and the Aegean.

Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis on Thursday met with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan to reaffirm US and Greek commitment to cooperation with the aim of strengthening bilateral defense and security and NATO.

Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis expressed concern Thursday over Turkey's destabilizing role in the region.