Greek-Turkish Relations

Erdogan constantly cultivates the sense of a quest for lost Ottoman grandeur and at the same time he disputes Turkey’s traditional ties with the West.

The overarching issue is to find ways to defuse tensions in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, where Ankara is doing all it can to impede Cyprus’ energy programme.

'In Cyprus they are testing our patience because they are violating our rights,' Erdogan declared about the gas and oil exploration programme of the Republic of Cyprus.

Pavlopoulos also insisted that Ankara must comply with international law on a series of issues affecting its relations with Greece.

'We must solve the problems between us with an honourable compromise as we did with North Macedonia,' said SYRIZA MP Christos Karagiannidis.

Erdogan made clear his persistence in demanding the extradition of eight Turkish military officers who have been granted asylum in Greece.

A dour-faced PM explained that he could not extradite eight Turkish officers Erdogan wants because the Greek judiciary ruled against their extradition.

The main challenge and greatest problem in bilateral relations, however, is Ankara’s persistent claims against Greek sovereign rights in the Aegean.

the key issue remains that the PM’s trip to Ankara seems to lack a compass and appears to be occurring in unchartered waters.

Erdogan says Ankara is determined to defend its 'rights' on Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Aegean.

The anxieties of the last days are rooted is Ankara’s inability to stop the Greece-Cyprus-Israel collaboration or to impede the designs of international politics on the biggest underwater natural gas pipeline in the world, East Med.

For the first time, over recent days we witnessed the defence minister – who is known for his brazenness – competing with the militarists in Ankara with constant statements which raise many questions