Greece and Turkey Consider Talks on Maritime Zones, Reports Reuters

Greece and Turkey are set to explore the possibility of initiating talks aimed at defining their maritime zones, as announced by Greece’s foreign ministry on Wednesday.

The two nations, while both being NATO allies, have a long history of rivalry over various issues, including airspace rights and maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as the ethnically divided island of Cyprus.

Establishing clear boundaries for their maritime zones is crucial for determining potential rights over gas reserves and energy infrastructure projects.

In recent years, tensions between the two countries have somewhat eased. They reached an agreement last year to improve their relations, committing to maintaining open lines of communication and addressing longstanding issues.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan engaged in discussions regarding their bilateral relations on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, as reported by both the Turkish presidency and the Greek foreign ministry.

The two leaders have directed their foreign ministers to assess the feasibility of beginning discussions on the delineation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis shared this information.

Preparations for a high-level meeting scheduled to take place in Ankara in January will soon commence, according to the office of the Greek prime minister.