Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travels to Ankara on Wednesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, aiming to cement a fragile thaw in relations while insisting that maritime boundary delimitation remains the only outstanding dispute between the historic rivals.
In an interview ahead of the High-Level Cooperation Council meeting, Mr. Mitsotakis told Foreign Policy that there is "no reason for escalation," describing the current relationship as simpler than the volatility of recent years.
He emphasized that the definition of the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) constitutes the single legal issue Athens recognizes.
Turkish media have closely analyzed the upcoming visit, interpreting Mr. Mitsotakis’ comments about both men being "experienced leaders" as a genuine desire to maintain open channels and avoid instability.
Pro-government outlet Sabah reported that Ankara also sees little risk of near-term tension.
The meeting was strategically scheduled for mid-February to occur before the start of Ramadan. Diplomatic sources in both capitals say the primary goal is to reinforce predictability and ensure that the "calm waters" policy holds, even as Mr. Mitsotakis prepares to raise the sensitive issue of Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean jurisdiction directly.