Turkey's Daily Sabah Criticises Greece and Cyprus Ahead of Mitsotakis-Erdoğan Meeting

Ankara, Turkey - Tensions simmer ahead of a crucial meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as Turkey's pro-government newspaper, Daily Sabah, published a sharp critique of Greece and Cyprus. The article, titled "Turkey's Maritime Diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean," accuses Greece and Cyprus of employing "confrontational" strategies in the region, contrasting their approach with Turkey's pursuit of maritime agreements with Libya and a potential agreement with Syria.

The Daily Sabah piece, published on Saturday, argues that Turkey's engagement with the administration of Ahmed al-Sharaa in Syria demonstrates a commitment to collaboration in a conflict-ridden region. It criticizes Greece and the "Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus" for relying on what it calls "rigid legal arguments and outdated narratives."

This critique comes at a sensitive time, just before the high-stakes meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdoğan in Ankara. The meeting is seen as an opportunity to reset relations between the two countries, which have been strained by disputes over maritime boundaries, energy resources, and the status of Cyprus. The Daily Sabah article, however, sets a confrontational tone, potentially complicating the discussions. The full article can be found at dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/….

The outcome of the Mitsotakis-Erdoğan meeting remains to be seen, but the Daily Sabah's rhetoric suggests that significant challenges remain in the path towards a peaceful resolution in the Eastern Mediterranean.