In a period marked by uncertainty and instability, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet in Ankara on February 11 for the 6th Greece-Turkey High-Level Cooperation Council. Athens enters the meeting with modest expectations but remains committed to preserving open communication channels and building a functional bilateral relationship. As confirmed by government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, there is currently no convergence on launching formal negotiations regarding the sole outstanding issue eligible for international adjudication—the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Nevertheless, both leaders aim for constructive dialogue and sustained calm in bilateral ties. To date, this approach has yielded tangible results: reduced airspace violations; enhanced cooperation on migration and overall reduction in migrant flows; streamlined short-stay visa issuance for Turkish citizens and families to 12 Aegean islands; and deepened bilateral trade. This marks Mitsotakis’s first face-to-face meeting with Erdogan in 18 months—their last encounter took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2024. Government sources stress the meeting’s significance in underscoring the necessity of direct dialogue to prevent crises and de-escalate tensions. Both capitals agree that bilateral issues should be addressed bilaterally and that improving relations serves regional stability. The council’s agenda and delegation will reflect the ongoing positive agenda and political dialogue between Athens and Ankara.
Mitsotakis-Erdogan Meeting in Ankara on Feb 11: Athens Prioritizes Dialogue
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