Turkey and Greece Seek to Mend Decades-Long Rivalry
- Hakan Fidan arrived in Athens for meetings with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.
- Turkey and Greece share a history of conflict including maritime disputes and rising illegal migration.
- The diplomatic efforts signify a renewed initiative to mend relations ahead of a planned council meeting in 2025.
On November 8, 2024, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Athens for critical meetings with his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis. This diplomatic engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce tensions between the two nations, which are longstanding rivals and both NATO members. For decades, Greece and Turkey have experienced strained relations marked by a series of disputes, including maritime border conflicts that have nearly led to war. Recently, both countries have made concerted attempts to enhance their diplomatic ties, inspired by higher-level discussions between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Topics on the agenda included addressing rising illegal migration, concerns about regional stability, and ongoing disagreements over issues such as Israel and Middle Eastern conflicts. The outcomes of these discussions are expected to pave the way for a Greece-Turkey high-level cooperation council meeting planned for early 2025 in Ankara, which may further improve bilateral relations.