Greece and Turkey maintain open channels on low-politics issues, in an effort to preserve dialogue between the two countries and maintain good neighborly relations, especially in view of the upcoming High-Level Cooperation Council meeting, which, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will take place in the first half of February in Ankara. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou is hosting Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay at the Foreign Ministry, in a meeting scheduled within the framework of Political Dialogue. On Wednesday, the 9th round of Greek-Turkish talks of the Positive Agenda will also take place, which includes discussions between techno-economic teams to provide solutions to issues arising between the two countries.
Greece-Turkey relations: The key Athens meeting, behind the scenes and Kairidis assessments on Mitsotakis-Erdogan tete-a-tete
In today’s talks, the issue of the upcoming meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan may also be raised, which, as emerged from Hakan Fidan’s statements, is scheduled for the first half of February. Toward implementing this meeting, the heads of diplomatic services are cultivating a positive climate between the two countries. This is evidenced by recent statements from the Turkish Foreign Minister about a definitive solution to the Aegean issue, which were interpreted as Ankara’s retreat from its long-standing position for a “package solution” to Greek-Turkish differences.
The Greek side, meanwhile, through Giorgos Gerapetritis clarified to all parties that the extension of Greece’s territorial waters in the Aegean constitutes a purely national right, which is not even subject to negotiation: “We will not discuss issues of national sovereignty and no concessions on our positions. We are not simply equal today. We are in a position of real strength, because this government did not close its eyes to the global scene” he said from Parliament (16/1/2026). However, Gerapetritis’ announcement about extending territorial waters with the demarcation of a second Marine Park in the Aegean caused concern in Turkey, as was at least recorded in the pro-government press, but without any official reaction so far.
Professor of International Relations and Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, Dimitris Kairidis, tells parapolitika.gr that the climate today in Greek-Turkish relations is “neither cold nor warm” however, as he points out, the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting will happen. “We are waiting for the finalization of the date” he says characteristically. According to Mr. Kairidis, we should not expect developments in Greek-Turkish relations and this is because “Turkey’s interest is now turned eastward to Syria and the major crisis in Iran, and the effort focuses through the personal relationship with Trump on unlocking US-Turkish relations, something that does not seem easy”. On the Aegean issue, he argues that “there cannot be an attempt at a solution in the Aegean without a comprehensive solution in the Eastern Mediterranean” and, anyway, as he maintains, conditions do not favor resolving Greek-Turkish differences. “There is so much burden today against International Law and International Principles globally, that it is good to be cautious” he emphasizes.
