High-Stakes Diplomacy: Greece and Turkey at the UN
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to meet in New York on Tuesday, September 23, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This high-level meeting follows weeks of diplomatic effort aimed at de-escalating recent tensions.
The meeting comes after a period of friction, highlighted by a Turkish Navtex (a maritime warning) announcing research by the vessel Piri Reis in the Aegean Sea. While expectations for a major breakthrough are low, the talks could help sustain a period of “calmer waters” in bilateral relations. Potential discussion points include the electricity interconnection project between Greece and Cyprus.
Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Greece-Turkey relations
Despite the ongoing diplomacy, both sides remain wary. Athens is particularly cautious, as the presence of the Piri Reis in Izmir Bay suggests that its potential deployment for surveys in the Aegean could derail the leaders’ meeting.
The situation is further complicated by recent developments that have favored Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean, such as US energy company Chevron’s interest in offshore blocks south of Crete, which has reportedly irritated Turkey.
Beyond the leaders’ summit, other contacts are expected, including a possible meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries. The strained atmosphere has also been marked by increased military activity. Greece recently held an unscheduled “Delta Force” exercise to demonstrate its readiness, while Turkey conducted four separate drills in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, one of which was with Egypt.
The Cyprus issue will also be addressed in New York. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, plans to meet with the Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot leaders to explore the possibility of new talks, even though the prospects for progress are slim given the upcoming elections in Northern Cyprus. Meanwhile, Erdogan is expected to focus his UN address on condemning Israel.
Related: Greece-Turkey: Mitsotakis Sets Conditions for International Court Referral
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