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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Kiryakos Mitsotakis’s Visit to Türkiye is an official visit by Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis to Ankara on 11 February 2026 as part of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council meeting between Türkiye and Greece.
Following the meeting, agreements were signed between the two countries in the areas of investment, maritime trade, economic cooperation, earthquake preparedness, culture, science and technology.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis at the Presidential Complex, 11 February 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis at the entrance of the Presidential Complex. Erdoğan and Mitsotakis took photographs in front of the Turkish and Greek flags on the stairs.
Following the welcome ceremony, President Erdoğan held talks with Mitsotakis. Upon arriving for the meeting, Mitsotakis shook hands with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Presidential Communication Director Burhanettin Duran, and Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Presidential Advisor on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç also attended the talks.
A total of 10 ministers accompanied Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis on his visit to Ankara. It was noted that the visit took place within the framework of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council between Türkiye and Greece.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis at the Presidential Complex, 11 February 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)
The members accompanying Mitsotakis are as follows:
Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis’s visit to Ankara was conducted within the framework of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) between Türkiye and Greece. Following their bilateral talks, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mitsotakis co-chaired the Inter-Delegation Meeting of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council.
Inter-Delegation Meeting of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council between Türkiye and Greece, 11 February 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)
In the joint press conference, President Erdoğan referred to the previous meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council, stating, “During the 5th meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council, I visited Athens on 7 December 2023.”
Following the Inter-Delegation Meeting of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council, an agreement signing ceremony was held between the two countries.
Following the talks held under the framework of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council between Türkiye and Greece, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis held a joint press conference.
Agreements signed between Türkiye and Greece, 11 February 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)
At the press conference, Erdoğan said, “I hope the documents we have just adopted will strengthen the foundation of our relations. We continue our efforts to increase our bilateral trade, which reached approximately seven billion dollars last year, to ten billion dollars. Today, the business councils of both countries also met to assess business opportunities. In our discussions with the Prime Minister, we once again addressed our positions regarding the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean in an open and sincere manner. We have consistently maintained that while existing issues are complex, they are not unsolvable under international law, provided there is good will, constructive dialogue and a willingness to find solutions. We are pleased to see that we share this view with our valued friend Kiryakos. I believe that, just as we have achieved momentum in all other areas of our relations since 2023, progress can also be made in resolving interconnected issues in the Aegean.”
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Erdoğan speaking at the joint press conference, 11 February 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)
Erdoğan also shared his expectations regarding combating terrorism and organized crime with Mitsotakis, adding, “We must act with a sense of historical responsibility regarding minorities, which constitute the human dimension of our relations. We shared with the Prime Minister our expectations regarding the full enjoyment of religious freedoms and educational opportunities by the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.”
Erdoğan stated that “Türkiye and Greece, as two NATO allies, face numerous developments that threaten security and stability.”
Saying that “Türkiye believes that Greece’s participation in recent defense initiatives in Europe serves mutual interests,” Erdoğan continued:
“With Prime Minister Mitsotakis, we also assessed regional developments, including the ceasefire process and peace plan in Gaza. We reject Israel’s recent decisions to expand its control in the West Bank and weaken the Palestinian administration. The position of the world’s leading countries, including ours and our brother nations, is clear on this matter. I wish to emphasize particularly that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East depend on a just two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. We will continue to defend this stance. I believe that Greece, as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025–2026, will keep the two-state solution perspective on the Council’s agenda in the interest of our region. We also touched upon what can be done to swiftly restore stability in Syria and enable this brother country to become a contributor to peace in the region. It is evident that our constructive role in this regard is crucial not only for Syria itself but also for the security of Greece and Europe. We hope that all components of Syria will move forward toward the future with an inclusive approach based on the principles of territorial integrity and unity. As two neighboring and allied countries, I sincerely believe that we must maintain open channels of dialogue based on cooperation.”
Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis, noting that the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council meeting was held in Ankara, said, “These meetings demonstrate the importance of good neighborly relations and dialogue.”
Mitsotakis thanked President Erdoğan for the hospitality shown to him and his delegation, saying, “Every time we visit your country, we are met with such warm hospitality.”
Mitsotakis added, “As you just mentioned, these meetings continually remind us all of how important and valuable good neighborly relations and dialogue are.” He noted that during his talks with President Erdoğan, they had the opportunity to conduct a detailed assessment of bilateral relations, recalling that in 2023 they made a strategic choice to develop ties between the two countries around three main pillars: political dialogue, a positive agenda, and confidence-building measures.
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Erdoğan speaking at the joint press conference, 11 February 2026 - (Anadolu Agency)
Mitsotakis emphasized that the positive agenda was also addressed during the talks, stating, “Within this framework of cooperation, we conducted extremely important discussions and had the opportunity to address our issues through open dialogue channels.”
Highlighting that the foreign ministries of both countries aim to establish a sustainable and forward-looking relationship, Mitsotakis said, “As Türkiye and Greece, we must address our issues with calmness. We must discuss these matters sincerely among ourselves. We may not agree on some topics.”
Mitsotakis, affirming Greece’s commitment to dialogue, said, “We will continue our cooperation based on good will and mutual respect. And I believe our efforts are already beginning to bear fruit.”
Mitsotakis noted that the temporary visa-free regime has yielded extremely important and effective results, saying, “Hundreds of thousands of Turkish citizens have visited our islands. This has given our peoples the chance to grow closer. We implemented this arrangement within the framework of an agreement with the European Union and will work to extend it this year.”
Mitsotakis emphasized that there is “an extremely important and effective cooperation” between the two countries on irregular migration, stating, “In 2026, there has been a 60 percent reduction in illegal migration, which we owe to the effective protection of our sea and land borders. This cooperation must continue and be further strengthened. The tragic incident off the coast of Chios in recent days once again demonstrated how vital this cooperation is. Our collaboration in this area must be continuous.”
Mitsotakis also explained that both countries are continuously striving to increase bilateral trade, recalling that the target for trade volume between the two countries is ten billion dollars.
Mitsotakis noted that Greece is strengthening its infrastructure at the Kipi and Kastanies border crossings, emphasizing that this will contribute to the growth of bilateral trade. He pointed out that companies from both countries are making mutual investments, calling this “an important development.”
Mitsotakis, stating that both countries are working together for regional stability, continued: “We also have some issues on which we do not agree or cannot reach consensus, such as continental shelf and exclusive economic zone matters in the Aegean. For these issues, we may need to refer to an international judicial body. But a solution can also be found within the framework of international law. President Erdoğan, I share your optimism and believe the conditions are now favorable for progress on these issues. I believe the time has come to eliminate all threats to our relations.”
Mitsotakis assessed: “Greece’s positions are well known and very clear. Here, United Nations Security Council resolutions provide an opportunity to open a new dialogue process, and any resolution must strictly adhere to the framework of UN Security Council decisions.” On the issue of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, he said: “We base our approach on the Treaty of Lausanne. According to this treaty, there is mention of a religious minority and a Muslim minority in Thrace. But I wish to reiterate once again: Greek Muslims in Thrace live in great harmony alongside the Christian population. They are equal under the law and in the eyes of the law. Likewise, in Turkey, although the number of the Greek minority in Istanbul has decreased, it continues to be a vital part of the country’s cultural and social life. Indeed, minorities in both countries can serve as bridges and promote mutual understanding.”
Mitsotakis, noting that both countries agreed on the commencement of the second round of peace talks in Gaza, said: “Greece firmly supports a two-state solution and believes it is the only realistic solution. We also firmly support the inclusion of the Palestinian side in any new administration. At the same time, we believe it is essential that Hamas is disarmed and the region is freed from terrorism. However, we categorically oppose any possible step toward Israel’s annexation of Gaza. The expansion of Jewish settlements in the region further complicates the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
On the role of the two countries in the region, Mitsotakis said, “As two important countries in the region, Türkiye and Greece can cooperate based on respect for international law and respect for the rights of religious minorities to establish political stability.”
Mitsotakis pointed out that fate has made Türkiye and Greece “neighbors in the same neighborhood,” saying, “We cannot change this geography, but we can build an alliance. With a sense of responsibility, we can work for the peace and prosperity of our countries. We must stand by the legacy of Eleftherios Venizelos and Kemal Atatürk.”
After the press conference, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a dinner in honor of Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis. The dinner at the Presidential Complex was closed to the press.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on 11 February 2026 as part of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council meeting held in Ankara. He met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and participated in inter-delegation talks. Following the meeting, agreements were signed between the two countries in the areas of investment, trade, maritime transport, earthquakes, culture and science. The leaders made statements on bilateral and regional issues during a joint press conference.
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Official Welcome Ceremony
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6th High-Level Cooperation Council and Signed Agreements
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Joint Press Conference and Statements