Greek Press Warns of ‘Mitsotakis’s Ankara Test’ as February 11th Meeting Looms
Ankara, February 6, 2026 – A sense of apprehension pervades the Greek media landscape as the February 11th meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara approaches. Reports from Athens suggest a prevailing concern that Turkey is in a strong negotiating position, with analyses indicating that Turkey is set to ‘score goals’ during the high-stakes talks. The visit, which will see Mitsotakis travel to Turkey at Erdoğan’s invitation, has generated significant discussion in the Greek press, raising the question: ‘What does Athens have in its briefcase as it comes to Ankara?’
‘Turkey Will Score Goals’
Journalist Stathis Stavropoulos, in an analysis titled ‘Turkey will score goals’ for the Greek news website Militaire, stated, ‘With increasingly pessimistic signs, Mitsotakis is preparing to set off for Ankara. As the days pass, Turkey adds new maneuvers that corner Athens. It is clear that Mitsotakis’s red lines fail to convince anyone, especially the Greek public.’
‘A Test and Secret Submission’
Stavropoulos further claimed that even after the meeting, Athens would not be privy to the details of the Erdoğan-Mitsotakis discussions. ‘The worst part is this. We will learn nothing. This is not just ‘secret diplomacy’; it could also be a test for Mitsotakis and a matter of ‘secret submission’,’ he asserted.
‘Wherever You Turn, You Encounter Turks’
The Greek journalist also noted that the meeting comes at an opportune time for Turkey, highlighting its growing influence. ‘Turkish power extending to Somalia also plays a special role in Syria. At the same time, it is re-establishing relations with Egypt at a strategic level and maintaining its role in the Iraq crisis. Wherever you turn, from Pakistan to Gibraltar, you will find Turkey,’ he said.
‘What is Greece Doing?’
In response to Turkey’s increasing regional power, Stavropoulos posed the question, ‘What is Greece doing?’ He answered in his article, ‘We cannot lay cables in Kasos, France’s love for us continues ‘as long as we buy its weapons with uncertain software’, our subservience to NATO and the EU is evident, and our relations with Russia are also strained.’
‘Greece’s Agenda for Turkey is Clear’
Meanwhile, another Athens-based publication, Capital, featured an article by Agis Veroutis, who assessed that ‘the February 11th meeting functions more as a risk management mechanism rather than a session of disagreement. In other words, for Athens, the goal is not resolution, but crisis management.’
Veroutis stated that Mitsotakis has specific topics he will address during the meeting. ‘Athens’s agenda for Ankara is clear: the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone. The Turkish side, however, sees this as an opportunity to reposition its demands in the Aegean. This approach broadens the scope of the meeting and creates more room for maneuver for Ankara,’ he explained.
‘There Are 5 Possible Scenarios’
Veroutis outlined five potential scenarios following the February 11th meeting:
- ‘Calm Waters’: The most likely scenario involves the reactivation of technical committees and some general joint statements, leading to ‘calm waters.’
- Concrete Step: A second scenario includes a concrete step, such as a more specific timeline for maritime zones, perhaps even a hint of international jurisdiction in the long term.
- Ankara’s Diplomatic Influence: The third scenario foresees Ankara using its diplomatic influence, with Athens retreating and producing a weak outcome.
- Strategic Stagnation: The fourth scenario, historically common, combines many small cooperation agreements with strategic stagnation on major issues, leading to difficulties re-emerging months later.
- Rapid Return of Tension: The fifth and worst scenario is the rapid return of tension with new NAVTEX announcements and harsher rhetoric from Turkey, which is ‘something we do not want at all.’
‘Message from Athens to Ankara’
Finally, in his article, Veroutis referenced the Greece-South Cyprus-Israel alliance. ‘Athens is making intense efforts to tighten the defense trio with Israel and the Greek Cypriot Administration. It is reorganizing power relations and sending a message to Ankara that it has strategic depth and options,’ he concluded.
Source: milliyet.com.tr
