Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are set to meet in New York on Tuesday, during the United Nations General Assembly.
The primary aim of the meeting is to keep the dialogue between Greece and Turkey on course and to deepen cooperation in key areas of mutual concern, particularly migration, which has become increasingly pressing for both nations. The leaders will outline the next steps for discussions on confidence-building measures, political dialogue, and advancing a positive bilateral agenda, with the goal of completing these initiatives by the end of 2024. They are also expected to set a date for the High-Level Cooperation Council, likely to take place in Ankara in early 2025.
Ahead of the meeting, a senior Greek government official highlighted the progress made in Greek-Turkish relations over the past 14 months, despite a turbulent regional environment. The official emphasized that in the context of the Middle East’s ongoing crises, the ability of both countries to engage in dialogue and avoid escalating tensions is a significant achievement.
Migration will be a focal point of the discussions, with recent developments increasing pressure on both Greece and Turkey. While the Greek government is generally satisfied with its cooperation with Turkey, officials noted that human smugglers are continuously adapting their methods. The use of faster boats by smugglers has made it even more crucial to prevent illegal crossings from the Turkish coast. With ongoing crises in Asia and Africa expected to fuel new migration waves, both sides recognize the need for coordinated efforts within the EU to manage a potential future crisis.
Another delicate topic on the agenda is the issue of maritime boundaries, a longstanding point of contention between Greece and Turkey. A senior Greek official suggested that the depth of discussions on this topic would depend on the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders. However, analysts remain cautious, noting the difficulty of making progress on such a sensitive issue, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. elections and its potential impact on the geopolitical landscape. Despite this, Greek officials stressed that bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey are not tied to the outcome of the American electoral process.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis is also expected to raise the Cyprus issue with President Erdoğan, as there is anticipation of new developments in the near future. Although Turkey has maintained a hardline stance on the matter in recent years, there is cautious optimism that pressure from the United Nations could bring Turkish Cypriots back to the negotiating table. Mitsotakis, who will meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres later in the week, has expressed reserved optimism about the possibility of restarting talks. Greece will continue to emphasize that any resolution must be grounded in existing UN Security Council resolutions.
The meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdoğan, which will take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, comes with a tight agenda. However, both leaders are expected to address a range of critical issues, focusing on mutual concerns and exploring opportunities for enhanced cooperation.
By Yiannis Kantellis
Translated by Anthee Carassava