The defense ministers of Turkey and Greece have reached an agreement to enhance their ties based on good neighborliness and friendship, as announced by the Turkish defense ministry.

The decision came following a meeting between Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his Greek counterpart, Alkiviadis Stefanis, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels during the alliance's defense ministerial meeting on June 15.

The Turkish Defense Ministry described the meeting as constructive and positive, emphasizing that Ministers Güler and Stefanis have agreed to develop their agenda based on good neighborly relations and friendship between Turkey and Greece.

Minister Güler recently assumed the role of Turkey's defense minister after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reshuffled his cabinet following parliamentary and presidential polls held on May 14 and May 28. Former Defense Minister Hulusi Akar was elected to parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Güler, who previously served as the chief of General Staff, was appointed as the new defense minister.

Tensions between Ankara and Athens have gradually eased over the past year, particularly following Greece's assistance in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck southeastern Anatolia, claiming the lives of over 50,000 people.

President Erdoğan has expressed his willingness to meet Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the NATO leaders' summit scheduled for July 11 and 12 in Vilnius.

Turkey recently proposed to Greece to extend the moratorium on military drills in the Aegean during the tourist season, signaling efforts to de-escalate tensions.

The two countries have been at odds over various issues in the Aegean Sea, including territorial waters, airspace, and other disputes. Ankara also accuses Athens of ongoing violations of the 1923 and 1947 treaties, which mandate demilitarized status for Greek islands in close proximity to the Turkish mainland.

Minister's Meetings with NATO Chief, French and British Counterparts

Minister Güler also held separate bilateral meetings during his visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels. He met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss global and regional security matters.

Additionally, Yaşar Güler had discussions with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and British Defense Minister Ben Wallace. Both ministers congratulated Güler on his new position in the cabinet and engaged in talks about ongoing security issues in the region and the world.

Ben Wallace is considered one of the potential candidates to assume leadership of NATO if Jens Stoltenberg's tenure is not extended. Photo by DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison, Wikimedia commons.