Greece and Turkey Hold Confidence Building Talks Amid Tensions

Delegations from Greece and Turkey met in Athens on Monday as part of long-standing efforts to improve often tense relations between the two neighbors. The meeting focused on discussing confidence-building measures, following a similar meeting in Ankara last November.

The two NATO allies have been at odds for decades over a series of issues, including territorial claims in the Aegean and drilling rights in the Mediterranean. They have come close to war three times in the last 50 years, most recently in 2020 when a dispute over energy exploration rights led to the two countries' warships facing off.

The meeting in Athens comes days after Turkey voiced objections over Greece's plans to create marine nature reserves in the Ionian and Aegean seas. Turkish officials see the move as sabotaging the normalization process in relations between the two countries.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed surprise at Turkey's reaction, stating that while the recent improvement in relations is "undeniable and measurable," it does not mean Turkey has changed its positions on the delineation of maritime zones, which remain "deeply problematic" for Greece.

The talks are part of ongoing efforts to find common ground on lower-key issues and improve ties. They come ahead of planned discussions between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 13.

Why this matters: The Greece-Turkey talks emphasize the complex geopolitical dynamics and long-standing disputes between the two NATO allies in the Mediterranean region. Resolving these tensions is vital for regional stability and cooperation within the alliance.

The Greek delegation at Monday's meeting was led by Ambassador Theocharis Lalakos, while the Turkish side was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akçapar. Despite the recent tensions over the marine reserves issue, both sides have expressed a commitment to continue the confidence-building process and maintain open lines of communication to prevent further escalation of disputes.

Key Takeaways

• Greece and Turkey met in Athens to discuss confidence-building measures.
• The two NATO allies have long-standing disputes over territorial and drilling rights.
• Turkey objected to Greece's plans for marine nature reserves, seeing it as sabotaging normalization.
• The talks aim to find common ground and improve ties ahead of a leaders' meeting.
• Resolving these tensions is vital for regional stability and NATO cooperation.