The two neighboring NATO allies have long-standing disputes over issues such as airspace, maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the divided island of Cyprus.
An agreement on maritime zones is significant, as it would define each country’s rights over potential gas reserves and energy infrastructure projects. While tensions between the two countries have decreased in recent years, a formal resolution to these issues remains unresolved.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met during the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss bilateral relations. Following the meeting, the leaders tasked their foreign ministers with assessing whether conditions were suitable to start discussions on the delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones. Preparations are also underway for a high-level meeting in Ankara in January.
Discussions on resolving maritime disputes have largely stalled, as both sides hold firm positions. Türkiye, with the longest continental coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, disputes the maritime boundary claims of Greece and the Cypriot administration, stating that these claims infringe on the sovereign rights of both Türkiye and Turkish Cypriots.
This year, tensions resurfaced when Greece announced plans to create two marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas by the end of 2024. Türkiye objected, accusing Greece of using environmental concerns to advance geopolitical aims. In response, a Turkish official hinted at the possibility of Türkiye establishing its marine parks in the region.
Any progress in normalizing relations would reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and contribute to broader regional stability.
