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Ankara Sees 'Window of Opportunity' After Mitsotakis-Erdogan Meeting

Published February 12, 2026, 14:17
Ankara Sees 'Window of Opportunity' After Mitsotakis-Erdogan Meeting

Following the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting in Ankara, Turkey appears to see a 'window of opportunity' for managing Turkish-Greek relations. Turkish analysts point out that international instability makes maintaining communication channels necessary, but they do not expect immediate solutions to long-standing problems. The Turkish side believes that the era of 'grand solutions' under the umbrella of the EU has passed and is focusing on managing the status quo, cooperating in areas considered 'easy'. The analysis from the Turkish side highlights that Greece relied on its EU membership to gain a diplomatic advantage over Turkey, especially after the deterioration of Turkish-American relations. The Greek strategy is considered to have aimed at putting pressure on Ankara through the institutional power of the EU. The Turkish perspective acknowledges that bilateral relations have become more 'complex' in the last decade, but insists on the importance of maintaining open channels of dialogue. Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that he wholeheartedly believes in the need to maintain these channels. Overall, the Turkish analysis presents an approach of managing existing differences, without expectations of radical settlement in the near future. The emphasis is on maintaining communication and finding areas of cooperation, while fundamental issues remain pending.