Mitsotakis-Berbok meeting in Maximou – The Turkish detente and the new ‘messages’ to Erdogan

By Dimitris Gatsiou

At the moment when Turkey, either through President Erdogan or through top officials, continues its revisionist rhetoric, constantly adding new episodes to the… merry-go-round of challenges, Athens is sending its own resounding signals to partners and allies. Awaiting today’s meeting at the Maximos Palace with the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Burbock, the Prime Minister seized another opportunity to internationalize the détente of the neighbor, firmly recommending the path of International Law, in a critical geopolitical period, which is determined by the developments on the frontline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and does not allow yet another source of instability on NATO’s eastern flank.

“We have an obligation to resolve our differences with Turkey. There is only one set of rules we can use: International Law. Greece has always behaved very responsibly towards Turkey. Geography has determined that we coexist. Yes, we have seen a series of challenges from side of Turkey last month, but I truly believe that President Erdogan would serve Turkish citizens much better if he focused his attention on reviving Turkey’s struggling economy rather than reviving neo-Ottoman, revisionist fancies. so let’s sit down and talk as responsible adults. We should not use foreign policy to fuel national passions. This is an irresponsible tactic.

Greece will always behave responsibly, but it will always do what it can, what it must to defend its sovereignty and its sovereign rights. This is simply non-negotiable for us”, stressed Mr. Mitsotakis, in the interview he granted to the CNN television network. After the Prime Minister’s meetings with Chancellor Soltz, in Brussels and Thessaloniki, meetings that pushed Berlin to abandon the policy of “equals distances” and to stand clearly on the side of Athens, the prime minister will this morning present to Annalena Burbok the Greek positions on the front of the Turkish challenges. This is, in essence, the addition of another important piece to the…puzzle of the internationalization of the revisionism of the neighbor , the formulation of which began with Mitsotakis’ visit to the United States of America, continued at the Council of “27” leaders of the European Union and ended at the NATO Summit in Madrid.

The meeting with N. Dendias

In parallel time, the head of Greek diplomacy, Nikos Dendias (who will have extended talks with his German counterpart) is embarking on a new… information marathon.

“Contrary to what we hoped, during this time the list of our problems with Turkey increased, it did not decrease at all…. The climate is more burdened than ever. In all the historical periods when we had a crisis with Turkey there was a noticeable difference. That the crisis was limited in time and immediately afterwards we came back, at least on one level, to discuss. It is the first time that we have a long crisis of almost three years, with little scope for dialogue”, noted, from Cyprus, Mr. Dendias, who he will, in turn, present to Annalena Burbock the…long list of the provocation of the neighbors, before leaving for Paris, where he will meet the French foreign minister.