High-level talks confirmed in Ankara
The Erdogan Mitsotakis meeting has been finalised for early February in Ankara, according to a senior diplomatic source. The Greece–Turkey High Cooperation Council will take place under the leadership of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The meeting is expected to be held by February 16 and will be the first since their last encounter in Ankara on May 13, 2024.
Timing linked to Ramadan
According to ERT, the convening of the High Cooperation Council is considered highly likely before mid-February, as Ramadan begins shortly afterwards.
Diplomatic sources described the meeting as particularly important, stressing that maintaining open channels of communication is essential in order to prevent crises and preserve calm in Greek–Turkish relations amid a volatile international environment.
Dialogue without major breakthroughs
The same source noted that both Athens and Ankara share the view that bilateral issues should be discussed directly between the two countries. While no convergence has been achieved on core issues, it has been possible to avoid serious tensions and keep disputes at a low level compared with past periods.
Regarding expectations, the Greek side is looking toward a constructive discussion, while making clear that conditions are not yet in place for a major breakthrough. Greece and Turkey are not in a position to engage in substantive talks on the continental shelf or exclusive economic zones, as there is no shared understanding on their scope- an issue Athens considers non-negotiable.
“We will not enter discussions on any matters of sovereignty,” the source stressed.
Agenda and NAVTEX issue
The agenda of the High Cooperation Council will be shaped around the so-called positive agenda and the ongoing political dialogue between Athens and Ankara.
Referring to a recent open-ended NAVTEX issued in the Aegean, the diplomatic source described it as a long-standing Turkish practice contrary to international law, characterising it as entirely unfounded. The issue, which Greece views as an improper use of a navigation safety mechanism, is expected to be raised during the Ankara talks.
The source added that the move is seen as an attempt by Turkey to project indirect pressure and adopt a maximalist position without legal basis- something, it was noted, Ankara itself is aware of.
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