Erdogan and Greek PM Mitsotakis to meet at NATO summit in Washington

The NATO Summit in Washington D.C. is being closely followed by Greek media, with a particular focus on the busy schedules of President Erdogan and Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

The Greek press has also provided a predicted time for the meeting between the two leaders. This summit brings together leaders from all 32 NATO member countries.

President Erdogan’s trip to the United States for the NATO Summit has also captured headlines in the Greek press. Leaders from 32 NATO member countries have gathered in Washington, D.C.

As part of his agenda, Erdogan is expected to meet with Mitsotakis on Wednesday. According to reports in the Greek media, this summit between the two leaders comes after days of ongoing behind-the-scenes discussions.

Due to the packed schedules of both leaders, the meeting is anticipated to occur during a session break and last between 10 to 15 minutes. Following their discussions, both leaders will attend an evening dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden for NATO leaders.

The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. local time in Washington, which corresponds to 11 p.m. in Türkiye. Greece-based News247 highlighted the expected brevity of the meeting with the headline “There’s No Time Even for Tea.” The meeting is expected to proceed positively and is seen as a routine yet significant event in Greece.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis are also expected to attend. According to the news channel In.gr, despite the brief duration of the Erdogan-Mitsotakis meeting, the foreign ministers may stay longer to discuss the practical details of the Turkish-Greek dialogue.

Greece anticipates that Wednesday’s meeting will confirm the positive atmosphere in Greek-Turkish relations. Erdogan and Mitsotakis will meet again at the U.N. General Assembly in September to discuss critical issues such as continental shelves and the Exclusive Economic Zone.

CNN suggested that the summit in Washington could provide an initial opportunity for serious discussions. Athens welcomes these meetings, stating that they are always well-received, while diplomatic sources view the meeting as a good opportunity to reassess relations between Türkiye and Greece.