Mitsotakis: Meeting with Erdoğan to take place before February 15
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara before February 15, stressing that Greece and Türkiye do not need mediators to discuss bilateral issues. Speaking to SKAI TV (Alexis Papahelas), he underlined that dialogue between the two leaders is beneficial, even though fundamental differences remain.
Mitsotakis rejected concerns about potential U.S. mediation, emphasizing that Greece’s strategic relationship with the United States is stronger than ever and extends well beyond personal ties with President Donald Trump. He also stressed that Greek-Turkish relations are autonomous and should be handled directly by the two countries.
Referring to the Athens Declaration signed two years ago, the prime minister noted a clear reduction in tensions, particularly in airspace violations, improved cooperation on migration, increased tourism from Türkiye to Greek islands, and the establishment of open communication channels to prevent escalation. However, he made clear that Greece harbors no illusions: the only substantive dispute with Türkiye remains the delimitation of maritime zones in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
Issues such as “grey zones” and demilitarization, he said, do not exist and will not be discussed. Mitsotakis added that "Türkiye must understand that as long as the casus belli remains in place, closer ties with the European Union — including access to European defense funding — are not possible."
On foreign policy more broadly, Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s growing geopolitical role, particularly in energy security, stressing the importance of the Vertical Gas Corridor and Greece’s position as a regional energy hub. He defended Greece’s strong support for Ukraine as a matter of both international law and national interest.
Domestically, the prime minister reaffirmed that the electoral law will not change, reiterating his preference for stable, single-party governments. He outlined the government’s reform agenda, with digital governance as its flagship achievement, and described the upcoming constitutional revision as a key opportunity to address long-standing structural weaknesses of the state.
Looking ahead, Mitsotakis said his goal is to lead Greece into 2030 — the 200th anniversary of the modern Greek state — as a stronger, more resilient and more influential country, capable of combining respect for international law with credible national power.
