Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have not met one-on-one for about a year and a half, since November 2024 in New York. Since then, there has been… a world event, notably with the election of Donald Trump and what followed, but the two have not had the opportunity to discuss the open fronts in the region again. Apparently, they coincided in international forums, such as the NATO summit, and there are channels of communication, notably between Foreign Ministers Giorgos Gerapetritis and Hakhan Fidan. But the discussion between them is … pending, although neither side seemed to be rushing the whole time, as the postponement of the meeting scheduled for last September at the UN showed.

Now, time has run out, and the Supreme Cooperation Council will be held again, this time in Ankara next Wednesday. Obviously, the dynamics of Greek-Turkish relations are nothing like the expectations that existed at the time when the Athens Declaration was signed in Athens, and Türkiye may refrain from major provocations. Still, it maintains tension where it can, even if it seems to have its eyes largely on other corners of our wider neighbourhood.

Given all of this, Kyriakos Mitsotakis understands that discussion is preferable to none. Also, direct communication with Mr Erdogan spells out the … arbitration scenarios that have been heard for several months now, ever since the US embassies in Ankara and Athens were taken over respectively by Tom Barak and Kimberly Guilfoyle, two people close to Mr Trump’s entourage.

The Agenda

In yesterday’s Foreign Policy interview, Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared conciliatory and very soft-spoken on Türkiye. He made it clear that he sees no risk of escalation, despite the one given dispute between the two countries over the EEZ and the shelf. Obviously, Mitsotakis is neither naïve nor inexperienced and understands that “it takes two to tango”, but he expects there will be no substantial tensions in the near future.

That said, the goal remains, according to government officials, to maintain open channels of communication and establish a functional relationship. From Athens, they openly say there is no convergence on starting the discussion on the settlement of the dispute over the EEZ and continental shelf, but they look forward to maintaining the broader climate of calm.

Besides, according to all public opinion surveys, citizens have ceased to perceive Greek-Turkish relations as a major source of danger, at least as things stand. And of course, Athens is seeking to preserve acquis, such as the reduction of air piracy, better cooperation on migration, the tourist visa for 12 Aegean islands that has yielded results, and the deepening of bilateral trade that has gone into a “channel” in recent years.

Ministers and agreements

Based on the information so far, Mitsotakis will have a private meeting with Erdoğan at the White Palace in Ankara, followed by the expanded meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council. He will be accompanied by his colleagues, including the outgoing director of his diplomatic office, Milton Nicolaides, and the director of the International Strategic Planning and Communication Office Aristotolia Peloni. Also in Ankara will be the entire Foreign Ministry, both Giorgos Gerapetritis, as well as Alexandra Papadopoulou (handling political dialogue), and Charis Theocharis (handling the positive agenda).

As for the exact number of ministers who will participate, Athens is waiting for a “signal” from Turkey. However, based on the information so far, no plurality of ministers is expected, and the agreements or “documents” to be signed are also expected to be low-key. But details will be “locked in” in the coming hours and days as we approach the meeting.