President Erdogan, Greek PM Mitsotakis to meet in Türkiye in April

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet in Türkiye in April, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Wednesday.

The meeting is expected to focus on bilateral relations, ongoing disputes and regional security.

Dialogue in Türkiye-Greece relations

Speaking at the Anadolu Agency’s Editors’ Desk, Fidan underscored the importance of dialogue in resolving Türkiye-Greece disputes and emphasized that both nations should focus on diplomacy rather than confrontation.

“Dialogue is key to solving Turkish-Greek issues. We inherited a set of unresolved disputes from previous generations. There are contentious matters on both sides, but resolving them through negotiations is crucial,” Fidan said.

Fidan also warned against provocative actions, stating that both governments should avoid escalating tensions. “It is essential to stay away from actions that incite tensions,” he noted.

Erdogan-Mitsotakis meeting to take place in April

The Erdogan-Mitsotakis meeting will be held under the High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) framework in Türkiye, marking another step in a diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Fidan confirmed that he had met with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in Doha last week, where they prepared for the April meeting and reviewed the steps to be taken.

According to Fidan, both Türkiye and Greece agree on the need for genuine efforts to negotiate disputes and have assigned their foreign ministries to continue the dialogue.

Türkiye-Greece relations amid regional challenges

While tensions between Türkiye and Greece have historically fluctuated, recent diplomatic efforts have aimed at stabilizing relations.

Disputes over maritime boundaries, airspace violations, and Turkish Cyprus-Greek Cyprus dispute have been persistent issues in bilateral relations.

Despite periodic diplomatic engagements, domestic politics in Greece sometimes complicate negotiations. Fidan acknowledged this dynamic, stating, “Greek domestic politics can be more sensitive than ours, which at times makes negotiations more challenging.”

Defense industry cooperation with Turkic States

Beyond Türkiye-Greece relations, Fidan also touched on defense industry cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), highlighting its positive trajectory.

“Defense industry collaboration is progressing well. The Turkic Republics recognize Türkiye’s advancements in defense capabilities and are benefiting from them,” he said.

Fidan noted Türkiye is actively working with various ministries and agencies to enhance military and security cooperation across Turkic nations, ensuring greater regional defense integration.