Erdoğan's shift to the West: Turkey and Greece are moving towards each other

Bilateral relations between Athens and Ankara have recently come to a standstill at almost all levels. After giving the green light to Sweden's accession to NATO, Erdoğan met with the Greek prime minister to boost relations with his neighbor.

Relations between Ankara and Athens have recently reached a low point. When the Turkish president met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius, the signs were pointing to an easing of tensions.

The leaders of Greece and Turkey have now agreed to resume talks and confidence-building measures, welcoming a new "positive climate" in their often tense relations. It was only eight months ago that Erdoğan threatened Greece with missile attacks and phrases such as "One night we will come". The two neighboring countries have been at odds for decades over various issues, including energy resources, overflights over the Aegean Sea and ethnically divided Cyprus.

"It is beneficial for both countries that the positive climate that has developed in bilateral relations in recent months has continuity and consistency," the offices of the two heads of state said in identical but separate statements.

"Both sides agreed to build on the positive momentum and activate numerous channels of communication between the two countries in the coming period," the statement added, and the two leaders look forward to "more frequent contacts at all levels."

Prior to the meeting, Mitsotakis spoke of a "roadmap" that would primarily pave the way for a settlement of the dispute over maritime borders. Greek media reported that the U.S. had been the "driving force" of the meeting. Erdoğan's approach to Greece is part of a broader foreign policy course correction. Ankara has improved its relations with the West in recent days after giving the green light to Sweden's admission to NATO.

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