ATHENS: On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan embarked on a highly anticipated trip to Athens, marking a pivotal attempt to forge a “new chapter” in the relationship between these NATO allies and longstanding adversaries, following years of strained relations.
During his five-hour visit, the outspoken Turkish leader is set to engage in discussions on trade, regional matters, and the enduringly contentious topic of migration with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Erdogan, in anticipation of the meeting, expressed his desire for a fresh phase in relations based on mutually beneficial principles in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
Since the 2016 agreement with the EU, Ankara has played a crucial role in managing migration, a topic that Mitsotakis and EU leaders aim to revise. Accompanied by a cadre of diplomats, Erdogan’s team is also addressing the persistent issue of territorial disputes between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea. Erdogan’s scepticism towards century-old agreements delineating Aegean sovereignty and the regular encounters between Turkish and Greek fighter jets in disputed airspace have added tension to these disputes.
The discovery of hydrocarbon resources in the eastern Mediterranean has further complicated relations, particularly with Ankara’s contentious maritime zone deal with Libya in 2019, causing consternation in Athens. Relations deteriorated further over the subsequent two years, leading Mitsotakis to announce an augmentation of naval and air force capabilities and to forge defensive pacts with France and the United States.
In 2020, Erdogan’s presence in Athens was linked to the encouragement of thousands of migrants to cross into Greece, sparking clashes with border guards. This move was widely perceived as Turkey’s effort to bring attention to the plight of millions of asylum seekers in their country. Erdogan’s rhetoric against Greece escalated during electoral campaigns, including accusations of Greek occupation of the Aegean islands and veiled threats of sudden action. However, relations took a positive turn after Greece provided aid following a devastating earthquake in Turkey. Erdogan recently highlighted revived communication channels with Greece and expressed anticipation for signing a bilateral friendship declaration during his conversation with Kathimerini.
Erdogan conveyed to Kyriakos, that we don’t intend harm if there’s no threat from your end. Resolving disparities through dialogue benefits us all, emphasizing common ground. Mitsotakis, reelected as conservative prime minister, has signalled a willingness to ease tensions with Ankara. The leaders convened previously during the UN General Assembly in September, with Erdogan’s last visit to Athens occurring in 2017 during Tsipras’ tenure. While acknowledging enduring territorial disputes, Mitsotakis advocates resolving these issues through the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
