Turkey reportedly greeted Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara with a performance of "Ceddin Deden," an Ot...

Turkey reportedly greeted Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara with a performance of "Ceddin Deden," an Ottoman military march whose lyrics call on soldiers to "crush the enemy of the homeland" and let them "bear the cursed shame." The Mehter, Turkey's historic Ottoman military band, performed the march as Mitsotakis arrived at a NATO-related event in the Turkish capital, according to reports circulating in Turkish media and on social media. The lyrics of the march leave little room for interpretation. They glorify Turkish military victories, celebrate the heroism of the Turkish nation, and explicitly call for the defeat of the nation's enemies. Critics immediately pointed out the disconnect between the march's content and the occasion, describing the choice as a nationalist provocation thinly dressed as a ceremonial welcome between two NATO allies. Adding fuel to the controversy, images of Mitsotakis smiling during the reception began circulating online, drawing sharp criticism from political opponents in Greece. His supporters pushed back, noting that visiting heads of government rarely receive a program in advance and are generally expected to follow diplomatic protocol regardless of the music being played. As of now, neither Athens nor Ankara has officially confirmed that "Ceddin Deden" was a deliberate choice for the arrival ceremony rather than part of a standard Mehter repertoire. The Greek and Turkish governments have not commented publicly on the episode. Whether deliberate or not, the reported performance has already ignited debate in Greece over what signal Turkey intended to send with the selection, and over whether Mitsotakis should have responded differently. The incident comes against the backdrop of a long and contested history between the two countries, spanning Aegean disputes, the Cyprus occupation, and recurring tensions over airspace and maritime borders. #Greece #Turkey #NATO