By Antonis Antzolettos

With the date of convergence of the Supreme Cooperation Council in Ankara not yet closed the relationships Greece – Turkey Lately they seem to be moving to ‘Stretched rope’. There have been several rhetorical outbursts of the neighbors who have puzzled Athens, while the harassment of Italian research in the Aegean for the Poning of the Crete -Cyprus Electric Cable are the “signal” given on the other hand that “not all rosy”. In the mini “episodes” last week came to be added and Ankara’s provocative attitude to NATO exercise in Volos and Alexandroupolis where the FIR of Athens and the Greek jurisdiction for investigation and rescue were challenged during her usual tactics. Some Turkish military forces left, but the exercise was completed normally. All of this is essentially a reminder of the claims that exist against Greece, “freezing”, but any more promoted discussion.

The Declaration of Athens almost a year and a half ago gave a boost to the Greek -Turkish, but since then there has been no progress despite the contacts made. In essence, the inability to get on the table is constantly highlighted. It could not happen otherwise, as Turkey wishes to expand the agenda beyond the issues of the EEZ and the continental shelf. The ‘calm waters’ in each case constitute the basis and The Greek side wishes to maintain this situation until things “clarify”.

What is the cloudy point at this time in the relationships of the two spaces? The attitude of Donald Trump in the Aegean. It is clear that the Turks are investing a lot in good chemistry between the American and the Turkish president. Can it be the reason why Hakan Fidan “conveyed” the date of the Supreme Cooperation Council for April? Diplomatic sources had said that the appointment had not yet been set. Ankara awaits a good “signal” on the other side of the Atlantic It may even have to do with its reintegration into the F-35 program. Palestinian and diametrically opposed relationships between the two countries with Israel make things difficult.

Recent reports of Vice President Vance about Europe only raised concern in Athens at a time when Trump has not hidden his contempt for international law. It took a long time in the Greek governments to create a relationship of trust with Washington and it is certain that what Athena has been built does not intend to let it erase. The Greek side is calmly monitoring developments while The Cyprus issue is now in the “equation”.