Greece has confirmed the deployment of a Patriot missile battery to Crete, a move coinciding with heightened rhetoric towards Turkey. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis stated that Greece is not merely observing tensions with Turkey, but actively taking steps to address them. He specifically mentioned preventing a repeat of incidents similar to the 1996 Kardak/Imia islet dispute. Gerapetritis refuted claims that Greece acts on Turkey's directives and defended the deployment as a necessary precaution. The move comes as the Greek government faces criticism from the opposition for allegedly escalating tensions with Turkey. This declaration increases existing friction between the two nations, signaling a firmer stance from Athens.