The new MOU contacts took place at a time when Ankara is reviving the narrative of “gray zones” in the Aegean following the Greek government’s announcements on the creation of marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian.
The position of Athens on this issue is clear, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlining that it is an issue of a purely environmental nature that will proceed based on planning.
Diplomatic circles speak of an “unjustified reaction by Turkey”.
The two sides discussed the course of the implementation of the 2024 MOUs, while they also discussed the Greek-Turkish dialogue of 2025.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Turkey, the meeting was positive and constructive “strengthening efforts and actions to establish trust” between Greece and Turkey.
The announcement of the Turkish Ministry of Defense:
“On April 22, 2024, a new round of Confidence Building Measures meeting was held between the delegations of Turkey and Greece. The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of National Defense of the Hellenic Republic. Ambassadors, senior military officers and other officials participated in the two delegations.
The two sides reviewed the previously agreed Confidence Building Measures during 2024 and discussed the implementation plan for 2025.
The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere. The next meeting will be hosted by the Turkish side.”
The course of implementation of the MOUs
Athens and Ankara, based on the 2010 agreements, are said to be proceeding with the continuation of the exchange of visits between Commanders of border units that began last week.
According to information, this specific measure will also be extended to senior officers, such as for example at the level of Chief of Fleet, Chief of Army and Headquarters of Tactical Aviation (ATA).
In addition, the two delegations also discussed the expansion of sports activities between the Military Schools.
The next meeting will be hosted by the Turkish side.
Earlier, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, had a formal meeting with the heads of the Greek and Turkish delegations.
It is recalled that the Greek delegation had traveled to Ankara on November 13, 2023, shortly before the arrival in Athens of the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on December 7, in Greece for the Supreme Cooperation Council.
The 2010 MoE Common Catalog
1. In the context of NATO’s Exercise Planning Conference, the Program of large-medium sized National Exercises should be exchanged.
2. Establishment of a direct channel of communication between the defense ministers of the two countries.
3. Establishment of a direct channel of communication between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
4. Interconnection of military Hospitals in matters of telemedicine.
5. Cooperation between the National Defense Schools in matters of mutual interest.
6. Exchange of personnel for training at the PFP (NATO) training centers of the two countries.
7. Exchange of officers of the General Staffs to attend a large-scale military exercise annually.
8. Meetings of the Heads of the General Directorate for the exchange of views on military issues in the context of meetings of International Organizations (NATO and EU).
9. Cooperation to avoid contamination of the Evros/Maritsa area.
10. Reciprocal visits between the Production Schools of the Armed Forces of the two countries.
11. Visits by Officers of the General Staffs of the two countries.
12. Planning a mutual visit to a major international exhibition of defense equipment organized in one of the two countries.
13. Organization of individual sports competitions between the military Schools.
14. Organization of friendly sports events between mixed teams (Army, Navy, Air Force) of the two countries.
15. Installation of direct telephone communication between the air headquarters of Larissa – Eski Sehir.
16. Greek and Turkish language courses for members of the Armed Forces of two countries.
17. Military cooperation in dealing with natural disasters of the two countries and organization of joint exercises.
18. Exchange of visits between Coast Guard Chiefs.
19. Installation of a direct telephone line between the two Heads of GEETHA.
20. Exchange of visits at the level of Chiefs of the three Branches of the Armed Forces as well as Senior Officers.
21. Creation of a joint Interbranch Operational Unit within the framework of NATO for participation in peace operations.
22. Establishment of a joint Land Unit within the NATO Rapid Reaction Force.
23. Establishment of a joint Interdisciplinary Action Group for dealing with disasters and providing humanitarian aid.
24. Exchange of visits between the Commanders of border military units.
25. Joint training programs within the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP of NATO) in which countries – members of the Partnership for Peace will participate.
26. Lectures to students of the Higher Military Educational Institutions of all branches of the Armed Forces by the Chiefs of Staff, in the context of the exchange of mutual visits.
27. Liaison at staff level of a Greek Division/Brigade in NATO’s Turkish High Readiness Headquarters (NRDC-TR) and a Turkish Division/Brigade in NATO’s Hellenic Deployment Headquarters (NDC-GR), for training purposes.
28. Organization of mutual ceremonial visits between the Schools of War.
29. Conducting joint scientific activities between the Higher Military Educational Institutions of the Armed Forces.
