Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pose for a group photo before their meeting at Presidential Complex in Ankara, Türkiye, on Feb. 11, 2026. Türkiye and Greece should maintain open dialogue and deepen cooperation as they face shared regional challenges, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
ANKARA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye and Greece should maintain open dialogue and deepen cooperation as they face shared regional challenges, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.
"As two neighbors, I believe it is important to maintain open channels of dialogue based on a spirit of cooperation," Erdogan said during a joint press conference following talks with visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Erdogan said Ankara aims to raise bilateral trade with Greece from 7 billion U.S. dollars last year to 10 billion dollars, underlining the economic pillar of the relationship.
The Turkish president said he and Mitsotakis discussed their positions on the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean "openly and sincerely," adding that despite the complexity of disputes, they are not irresolvable under international law.
Both leaders agreed on the need to act with "historical responsibility" regarding minorities, Erdogan said, adding that he expects the Turkish minority in northeast Greece's Western Thrace to fully benefit from religious freedoms and educational opportunities.
Mitsotakis, in his remarks, said the two sides still disagree on issues including the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones in the Aegean, suggesting international judicial mechanisms could be considered.
He said conditions were suitable for progress, adding that it was time for threats to be removed from the relationship.
Erdogan and Mitsotakis also co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council following their one-on-one meeting.
The meeting comes as the two countries seek to sustain dialogue despite longstanding disputes over maritime boundaries, migration and energy exploration. ■
