Philenews

The Visit That Changed Nothing for Greece and Cyprus

Published February 15, 2026, 14:09
The Visit That Changed Nothing for Greece and Cyprus

The recent meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara did not lead to substantial changes in the situation between Greece and Cyprus. Although the meeting aimed to de-escalate tensions, Turkey continues to threaten Greece with war and occupies 37% of the Republic of Cyprus. The author notes that Erdogan seeks to maintain an image of good relations with Greece to secure support for the purchase of F-16s from the US and to prevent potential sanctions. The meeting is considered political “suicide” for Mitsotakis, is he changes stance on the SAFE issue, which concerns the military reinforcement of the occupying power by the European Union.