From left: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose for a photo during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. [Alex Brandon/AP]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed new talks with Greece on Aegean issues at the conclusion of the NATO summit on Wednesday, saying the two countries’ foreign ministers should meet first and that the leaders themselves could later join the discussions if necessary. The proposal came after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis renewed calls for resolving longstanding disputes and raised concerns over Turkey’s casus belli and potential access to F-35 fighter jets. Both leaders stressed dialogue despite differences that have long complicated relations between the neighboring states.
“I also share the same view as Mitsotakis, particularly regarding the resolution of the issues in the Aegean,” Erdogan said. “We hope that first our foreign ministers, and then, if necessary, we ourselves will sit down at the table to discuss this matter. But let me say this clearly and openly: resolving these issues is first and foremost the duty of leaders.”
“The significant difference with Turkey is the delimitation of maritime zones,” Mitsotakis said, while also raising the issue of the casus belli maintained by Ankara since 1995.
