Greece and Turkey have agreed to strengthen cooperation on maritime security and share intelligence to crack down on criminal networks involved in illegal immigration, officials announced yesterday.
The move marks the first formal collaboration between the two countries' coast guards in five years.
The meeting, described as notably positive, led to an agreement for regular communication between local port authorities on both sides of the Aegean Sea.
This is intended to improve response times and coordination in addressing cross-border issues, particularly human smuggling.
Greece’s delegation, led by Captain Georgios Christianos of the Hellenic Coast Guard, included senior officials and regional port commanders from the eastern Aegean. Admiral Tayfun Pasaoglu represented Turkey, accompanied by commanders and officials from the Turkish Coast Guard in Ankara.
The two countries plan to follow up on this renewed cooperation with a second meeting scheduled for February 2025 in Kuşadası, Turkey, reflecting both sides’ commitment to working together on regional security.