On Thursday, a Greek-Turkish summit will take place again, for the first time after seven years. “After the serious tensions of the past years, […] both sides are turning to dialogue”, it comments German Journalism Network (RND).

It remains a fact that during the meeting “no one in Athens and Ankara believes that much progress will be achieved or even a breakthrough”, because the Greek-Turkish differences “are complex and partly rooted in the depths of history”, as the German network points out, specifically mentioning the controversy surrounding the Treaty of Lausanne.

However, the two sides “now want to put aside intractable issues and look for possibilities of cooperation in less sensitive areas – such as tourism and visa facilitation for Turkish holidaymakers”.

Although the German media criticizes Erdoğan for often showing in the past with his attitude that he is “an unpredictable, quirky partner”, he adds that the Turkish president seems “to have calmed down again. He no longer considers Mitsotakis as persona non grata”, while “in a recent interview he stated that he hopes for the “beginning of a new era” in relations with Greece. He wants “a new page to be written” and sees that there is a “win-win treaty” for both countries”.

This change of attitude by Erdogan seems not to be limited to words. As he observes the RND“while during the first quarter Turkish pilots violated Greek airspace 1,164 times, from April to November only 8 incidents were recorded. […] Furthermore, since September, illegal migration flows from Turkey to the Greek Aegean islands have decreased by 60%. Because of these, observers conclude that Erdogan really wants to reduce tensions.”

Why is Erdogan changing his stance?

For Erdogan, the pursuit of a rapprochement with Greece has specific reasons. As the explains RND, “is part of a broader course correction of the country’s foreign policy, as the Turkish president seeks new partners in the West. This is a shift dictated by the economic difficulties the country is facing. Turkey is in the midst of a currency crisis, it needs foreign exchange as well as market confidence. Most of Turkey’s foreign investors and most important trading partners are based in Europe. And Erdogan knows that improving relations with the E.U. passes through Greece.

This is also the reason why he is willing to make concessions on an issue that is of key importance, both for Greece and for the EU: behind the scenes, Ankara and Athens have been negotiating for some months a joint progress regarding the restriction of illegal immigration. […] This would be an important development for the EU as well”, especially if an extension of the migration agreement between the EU eventually emerges. and Turkey of 2016.