Tensions in Greek-Turkish relations always create new challenges for the two neighboring countries. They have a history of war and conflict with each other in recent centuries.Turkish-Greek relations have been tense for the past decade.

Disputes over the Aegean Sea and the existence of ambiguous areas, or the violation of each other’s airspace, doubts about the Treaty of Lausanne, mistrust between the two neighboring countries who are NATO members, and taking refugee of Turkish troops to Greece after the failed coup in 2016, are the factors that have increased disagreements between the two countries. 

In fact, disputes over historical heritage are an important dimension of the problems. In fact, Hagia Sophia was the center of the Orthodox Church for 916 years. Despite Greece's efforts to portray Hagia Sophia as Christian, Ankara emphasizes that the use of Hagia Sophia is a sovereign right of Turkey.

On the other hand, the maritime borders of Turkey and Greece are very widespread and challenging. The differences between Turkey and Greece in strategic and important areas are motivations for tension. The two sides have contradictory views on previous border treaties, revisions to the Lausanne Treaty, the Aegean Islands, breaches of privacy, and so on.

Athens believes that Greek sovereignty over its islands is unquestionable and is guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), the Turkey-Italy Agreement (1932) and the Treaty of Paris (1947).

But Ankara does not accept the rise of the Territorial waters and the Greek’s approach to the Aegean and the Mediterranean. The 200-mile border for the two countries' exclusive economic zone also overlaps with neighboring coastlines.

In addition, the differences between Turkey and Greece over the continental shelf and the monopoly-economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean have increased. In these circumstances, the differences and claims of the two countries about the islands in the Aegean Sea, the militarization of the islands, the violation of airspace, etc., cause tension and increase the risk of military conflict.

In another area, regional cooperation between the two countries is at odds. On the one hand, Cyprus is one of the main sources of tension between Turkey and Greece. Turkey's approach to the Republic of Northern Cyprus and Greece’s widespread opposition to its formal recognition by Turkey, has effectively kept tensions high.

Also, the three countries of Cyprus, Armenia and Greece have practically increased their diplomatic cooperation against Turkey and shifted their relations towards greater convergence. Cyprus and Greece have played an important role in thwarting Turkey's bid to join the European Union. In addition, Greece has used its diplomatic capacity in the European Union to put pressure on Turkey and its international isolation. Respectively, consultations with Greece’ allies in Europe have led to direct and indirect support for Greece by the EU members.

Greece and Turkey also have wide-ranging differences over the signing of a Turkish security cooperation memorandum with the Libyan government of Alseraj, Greek Mediterranean approaches, views on Libya, and cooperation between Greece, Israel and Cyprus.

On the other hand, the wider cooperation between Greece and the Turkey’s opposition and the role of Greece in putting Turkey aside from the regional coalitions, has worried Ankara.In addition, Turkey is hosting more than a few million refugees, and Athens believes Erdogan's threat to take refugee as weapons to put pressure on Europe and Greece have dire consequences.

What is clear, however, is that the leaders of the two sides have repeatedly agreed to keep the channels of communication open. But developments can always escalate tensions between Ankara and Athens. In addition to the low level of economic relations between the two countries, the more propaganda of the two countries’ extremist nationalists against each other, and the more politicizing the issues can add to the scope of the differences.

Farzad Ramezani Bonesh

Senior Researcher and Analyst of International Affairs