Israeli press warns Athens: Türkiye's 'red lines' in Aegean are clear

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis are convening in Ankara today for the 6th Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council meeting, marking the first such summit in two years. The talks aim to address growing tensions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, but a significant shadow is cast over the proceedings by recent defense pacts between Athens, Nicosia, and Tel Aviv.

Israeli media admits discomfort, warns Athens

In a striking analysis published ahead of the summit, Israeli newspaper Maariv acknowledged that Israel is disturbed by the prospect of Türkiye-Greece rapprochement. The report, titled "Red Line for Türkiye – This is a Cause for War," stated bluntly that Ankara will not permit violations of its maritime jurisdiction. "Türkiye's red lines are very clear. It will not allow a single bird to fly in the Aegean without its consent," the analysis said, directly referring to the 12-mile territorial waters dispute. The piece suggested that recent Israeli-Greek defense agreements have emboldened Athens, potentially pushing it toward a more confrontational stance.

Diverging expectations and Fidan's remarks

Greek media, meanwhile, struck a more cautious tone. Kathimerini reported on "last-minute complications" ahead of the summit. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's previous remarks—praising Mitsotakis and Gerapetritis while expressing doubt over Athens' domestic political capacity to resolve strategic issues—have fueled speculation about the limits of the current dialogue. A Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated Athens' commitment to international law and good neighborly relations, but analysts note that fundamental disputes over sovereignty, demilitarization, and maritime zones remain untouched.

An agenda of damage control

Both sides appear to be lowering expectations. Diplomatic sources indicate the meeting is focused on maintaining communication channels and preventing escalation, rather than achieving breakthrough solutions. Trade, tourism, transportation, and irregular migration will dominate the official agenda. A target of $10 billion in bilateral trade volume remains on the table. Mitsotakis stated prior to his departure that he does not foresee "serious risk of tension," citing open lines of communication with Erdoğan.

The Cyprus factor and wider implications

Cyprus, defense policy, and border security are also expected to be discussed. With a NATO summit scheduled in Ankara this July, both capitals recognize the reputational risks of a new crisis erupting on the international stage. Yet with Athens deepening military ties with Israel and Ankara asserting its maritime rights with increasing resolve, today's summit may be less about solving disputes and more about managing an increasingly fragile equilibrium.