Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has confirmed that he expects to travel to Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before Feb. 15, asserting that Athens requires no third-party mediators to manage its complex relationship with its historic rival.
Speaking on Skai TV, Mr. Mitsotakis dismissed speculation about American involvement in the dialogue.
While acknowledging Greece's "stronger than ever" strategic bond with Washington, he emphasized that Greek-Turkish relations are autonomous.
"We do not need a mediator or an arbitrator to discuss issues that concern our two countries," Mr. Mitsotakis said.
The summit comes as the NATO allies navigate a fragile détente. However, Mr. Mitsotakis warned that Ankara’s standing casus belli (threat of war) regarding Greek territorial waters remains a barrier to Turkey accessing European Union funding.
He reiterated that Greece "does not need permission" to exercise sovereign rights, citing his administration's expansion of territorial waters in the Ionian Sea.
Beyond Turkey, the Prime Minister highlighted deep strategic cooperation with Israel in defense and technology, rejecting claims that the partnership targets Ankara.
Domestically, Mr. Mitsotakis pivoted to upcoming constitutional reforms. He advocated for revising Article 86 regarding ministerial liability, arguing that prosecutions should be handled by judicial authorities rather than politicians.
"Prosecutions should be handled by prosecutors, not by Parliament," he stated.
The upcoming Ankara meeting is viewed as a critical test of whether the recent diplomatic thaw can withstand lingering disputes over maritime boundaries and energy rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.