Greek prime minister to visit Ankara, signaling thaw in relations with Turkey
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to visit Ankara in May, marking a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic thaw between Greece and Turkey.
This announcement follows Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Greece in December, underscoring efforts from both nations to bridge differences and ease tensions.
In a televised interview with Greece's Skai TV, Mitsotakis expressed optimism about the Turkish leadership's willingness to reconcile, emphasizing the importance of avoiding conflict. "I think there is sincere willingness from the Turkish leadership's side as well for us to be able to bridge our differences, to avoid tensions at least," Mitsotakis stated.
The longstanding disputes between Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, have centered around territorial rights, energy resources, Aegean Sea airspace, and policies towards Cyprus. However, recent initiatives, especially following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, have seen both countries taking significant steps to improve relations.
During Erdogan's trip to Greece, the leaders agreed to enhance trade, maintain open communication channels, pursue military confidence-building measures to lower tensions, and address contentious issues, particularly in the Aegean Sea.
