- Recently, the leaders of Greece and Turkey met to put aside decades-old disputes. This meeting was part of a five-month-old friendship initiative.
- The disputes between Greece and Turkey, two NATO members, have strongly affected their relations since the 1970s with outbreak of military hostilities, in 1987 and in early 1996.
- Aegean Sea Dispute –
- Greece and Turkey disagree over the extent of territorial waters in the Aegean Sea. Greece claims 12 nautical miles based on international law, which Turkey does not recognize, arguing it would limit its access to the Aegean.
- Similar disputes exist over airspace, with Turkey not recognizing the 10-mile airspace boundary claimed by Greece.
- Disagreements also extend to rights over the continental shelf’s exploration and exploitation of natural resources.
- Cyprus Issue – Cyprus has been a major point of contention since 1974 when Turkey invaded the northern part of the island following a coup d’état by Greek Cypriots. This led to the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
- In 2019, Turkey agreed to exploit a swath of the east Mediterranean with Libya, further encroaching on what Greece saw as its own maritime jurisdiction.
- The West Asian migration crisis has also strained relations as both countries are situated on significant migrant routes into Europe.
Dig Deeper: East Mediterranean Sea and territorial disputes around it.
