Behind the scenes of the meeting of K. Mitsotakis and A. Blinken on the Greek-Turkish and Ukrainian conflict

Yesterday’s dinner hosted by Kyriakos Mitsotakis for US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, which lasted an hour and a half, had a tense background, the main theme of which was Greek-Turkish relations.

As for everything else, the Americans got what they wanted and what they asked for, what they are now interested in is the revival of Greek-Turkish relations, even if it means meeting some Turkish demands.

“Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Mr Blinken agreed on the importance of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean at a critical geopolitical juncture.

The Prime Minister stressed that the firm position of Greece and the guiding principle of its policy has been and remains the peaceful resolution of disputes and good neighborly relations on the basis of international law.

In short, Megaro Maximu he himself admits that Greek-Turkish relations were discussed.

Blinken asked Mitsotakis how the Greek side sees the “revival of relations” that Turkey is trying to do and that Mevlut Cavusoglu publicly announced over the weekend.

The prime minister’s response was: The earthquake brought the two peoples closer together, but there must be a substantial basis for resuming processes such as the MOU at the military level or research contacts.

What research contacts? To discuss only Turkish demands and Turkish claims?

What are our requirements?

What happened with the double deadly earthquake in Turkey is seen in Washington as an “opportunity” to advance its own agenda in the Aegean and Mediterranean.

Demilitarization of the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Dodecanese (in a five-year horizon), the beginning of joint research to identify and exploit hydrocarbons in the Aegean Sea, the continuation of intelligence contacts between the two sides sovereign rights), the resumption of confidence-building measures (CBMs), the continuation of military negotiations within NATO and the recognition of a “package” of rights for the Muslim minority in Thrace and the Dodecanese.

These are the six measures that Turkey requested from the Mitsotakis government, and which the Greek media made public yesterday, in order to ease tensions between the two countries in the context of “earthquake diplomacy.”

These issues were discussed in the government’s secret talks with Ankara during a meeting between Ibrahim Kalin, adviser to Tayyip Erdogan, and Anna-Maria Bura, director of the diplomatic office of Kiryakos Mitsotakis, Turkish sources said today, but they were also raised – without naming in full – Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu .

The bad thing is that Americans accept and encourage all this.

Of course, there is also the question of Ukraine. It’s no secret that the Americans would like to see several European countries hand over Leopard tanks to the Ukrainians.

The Prime Minister of Japan made it clear a few weeks ago that Greece would not lend its Leopard 2s. But there is Leopard 1.

The Americans would very much like to see them on the Ukrainian plains…

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