Turkey is closely monitoring any military or energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean that Ankara interprets as an attempt at encirclement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a press conference in Istanbul, when asked about developments in the region and cooperation between Greece, Israel and Cyprus.
Fidan said these initiatives do not currently have a direct impact, but stressed that their momentum and the message they send do not go unnoticed. He noted that warnings have already been conveyed to relevant interlocutors, arguing that such moves do not serve anyone’s interests and could lead to further regional fragmentation. He added that, because the issue is sensitive, he did not wish to speak too openly about the language and arguments used in related discussions.
At the same time, Fidan referred to a “historic opportunity” to resolve long standing problems in the Aegean, expressing confidence that a permanent and definitive solution is achievable based on realistic assessments. He confirmed that contacts are under way regarding a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Asked specifically about the Mitsotakis Erdoğan meeting, Fidan said the issue was also discussed on the sidelines of the Paris summit, during his brief exchange with the Greek prime minister. According to Fidan, both sides wish the meeting to take place before Ramadan, which begins on 19 February, and two or three possible dates are under consideration. He added that President Erdoğan also wants the meeting to happen as soon as possible and expressed hope that arrangements would be finalised.
On Greek Turkish relations more broadly, Fidan underlined that resolving existing disputes requires intent and political will, with the aim of sitting at the table and not leaving until the issue is settled. He identified the Aegean as the core subject of discussion, explicitly referring to territorial waters and the continental shelf, and reiterated that Turkey is ready for substantive talks beyond exploratory contacts.
The Turkish foreign minister also stressed the need for confidence building measures and greater contact between the two peoples. He observed that, in his view, the perception of Turkey as a threat continues to play a role in Greek domestic politics as a source of political cost. At the same time, he acknowledged that over the past two years there have been no serious tensions, such as dogfights or repeated incidents, pointing to the functioning of existing mechanisms and cooperation on issues including migration.
Fidan proposed the implementation of confidence building measures, encouraging greater people to people contact and avoiding, as far as possible, the instrumentalisation of issues without real substance in domestic political debates. He concluded that resolving differences is possible, provided the issue is detached from internal political pressures and addressed rationally, with the national interests of both Greece and Turkey in mind.