Turkey highlights seismic exploration in disputed areas south of Crete via Libya MoU, provocatively timed during PM Mitsotakis’ February 11, 2026 Ankara visit and talks with Erdoğan on bilateral normalization. Athens condemns it as a challenge to sovereign rights amid dialogue efforts.
Tag: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Fidan on SKAI: Erdoğan to Meet Mitsotakis in February – ‘We Want a Permanent Solution in the Aegean’
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on SKAI that President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Mitsotakis will meet in February to seek a permanent resolution to the Aegean dispute, while stressing the need to set aside domestic politics for progress.
Trump administration reportedly considering exiling Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to Turkey, leveraging his close ties with Erdoğan.
Nikolas Farantouris urged Greece to assert a strong and active role in the Middle East to protect its national interests and Orthodox populations, highlighting the country’s historic ties to the region and the need to counter Turkey’s strategic expansion.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s White House meeting with President Trump highlighted U.S. support for reopening Halki Theological School, with Vice President Vance clarifying the Patriarchate’s global role akin to the Pope’s.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić accused Turkey of destabilizing the Western Balkans by supplying Skydagger drones to Kosovo, claiming Ankara seeks to revive the Ottoman Empire. Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani countered, mocking Vučić’s criticism of a NATO ally while highlighting Kosovo’s focus on NATO-aligned defense upgrades
The scheduled meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the 80th UN General Assembly was postponed due to Erdoğan’s attendance at a U.S.-hosted event with Arab and Muslim leaders.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his pleasure in hosting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the…
Five years after its conversion to a mosque, Hagia Sophia stands as a symbol of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s vision, blending Islamic heritage with political ambition. Welcoming 40 million visitors since July 2020, it serves as both a place of worship and a tourist site, enriched with weekly religious classes and modernized with AI security.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides announced that Cyprus, during its 2026 EU presidency, will host a summit of regional leaders, including Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to discuss Middle East developments. Despite historical tensions from Turkey’s 1974 invasion, Christodoulides emphasized Cyprus’s willingness to engage, stating, “You cannot change geography; Turkey will always be a neighboring state.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Western governments’ migration policies of contributing to migrant deaths in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, alleging that migrant boats were deliberately punctured, causing drownings. In a speech on migration, he cited a UN report stating over 72,000 people have died on global migration routes since 2014 and raised concerns about thousands of Syrian children who fled to Europe and subsequently disappeared.
In a surprising development, Turkey appears to be opening its ports of Istanbul, Izmir, and Mersin to Cypriot ships after 38 years of restricted access, according to a report by The News. The move, linked to pressures from the European Union, has sparked debate over whether it signals genuine reconciliation or a tactical maneuver amid the unresolved Cyprus conflict.
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The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges has sparked nightly protests in Saraçhane Square, where thousands demand his release. His wife, Dilek İmamoğlu, has become the heart of the movement, delivering fiery speeches against President Erdoğan and rallying support for democracy. Her leadership has cast her as a potential figurehead in Turkey’s fight against authoritarianism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump as the ideal mediator to prevent conflict with Turkey, citing Trump’s strong rapport with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan amid discussions on avoiding escalation over Syria.
Negotiations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Turkey’s Ministry of Education are advancing towards the potential reopening of Halki Theological Seminary by 2026. Seen as a gesture of goodwill, this move could shift Turkey’s international standing amidst growing criticism over human rights. However, its implications extend beyond Greek-Turkish relations, raising questions about the role of religion in Turkish diplomacy.
: In a recent declaration, the hacker group Anonymous claimed responsibility for cyberattacks against Turkey’s governmental infrastructure, citing opposition to what they describe as oppressive measures by President Erdoğan’s regime.
Turkish authorities have detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu days before his expected presidential nomination, citing corruption and terror-related charges. The move, denounced by the opposition CHP as a “coup,” has sparked political tensions and caused the Turkish lira to hit an all-time low.
On Tuesday, Istanbul University ruled that Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu’s 1995 degree was falsely obtained, revoking it amid a forgery probe. The decision could derail his presidential hopes, though he vows to fight it in court while leading the CHP against Erdoğan’s AK Party.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that the Turkey-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) will meet in Ankara this April. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis are set to attend, with both countries emphasizing their commitment to resolving issues through dialogue. Fidan highlighted the importance of regular updates from the heads of state and acknowledged the sensitivity of Greece’s internal political system in the ongoing discussions.
Tensions rise ahead of a key meeting between Greek PM Mitsotakis and Turkish President Erdoğan as Turkey’s pro-government *Daily Sabah* criticizes Greece and Cyprus for “confrontational” strategies in the Eastern Mediterranean, contrasting their approach with Turkey’s maritime agreements.
Hundreds of thousands marched in Istanbul on January 1, 2025, protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza. Bilal Erdoğan, son of the Turkish president, addressed the crowd, condemning the “genocide” and declaring that “Western values have died in Gaza.” He also vowed to “liberate” the Al-Aqsa Mosque, just as Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss the plight of Syrian Christians, the reopening of the Halki Theological School, and the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
Turkish President Erdoğan has tied any resolution of the Cyprus issue to recognizing the “sovereign equality” of Turkish Cypriots, calling this a “new reality” as the UN prepares for talks. He reiterated Turkey’s commitment to a permanent military presence on the island and celebrated the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s 1974 intervention, which he termed a “peace operation.” This stance is likely to further complicate negotiations.
The Reuters news agency has reported that Greece and Turkey may be on the path…
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis notes that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip…
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed doubts about resolving Greece’s longstanding disputes with Türkiye, highlighting the necessity for continued defense investments. Speaking at the Thessaloniki International Fair ahead of his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mitsotakis acknowledged the challenges in improving relations but emphasized the need to bolster Greece’s armed forces as a precaution.
Turkish Nationalist and Pro-Government Groups Pressure Authorities to Cancel Greek Orthodox Ceremony
Tensions are high in Trabzon, Turkey, as nationalist and pro-government groups pressure authorities to cancel a Greek Orthodox ceremony scheduled for August 23rd at the historic Sümela Monastery. The ceremony, marking the Assumption of Mary, is organized by the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate. This year’s event has been particularly contentious…
Turkey is set to formally submit its request to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice on Wednesday. This legal action focuses on allegations of genocide linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, amid significant civilian casualties and ongoing hostilities in the region.
The two sides also discussed interstate relations and regional issues, TRT Haber reported.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are scheduled to meet…
