IRIA News

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Turkish and Greek officials conducted multiple rounds of bilateral talks in Thessaloniki, a Greek port city on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, on April 28 and 29, 2025, as part of the annual implementation cycle of Confidence-Building Measures (CBM).

The meeting focused on reviewing existing CBMs and outlining plans for further collaboration in 2026 and was attended by senior officials from both sides, including ambassadors, military officers, and civilian defense authorities.

According to an official statement released by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, “Both delegations reviewed the CBMs agreed upon for 2025 and discussed the implementation plan for 2026. The meeting was conducted in a positive atmosphere. The next meeting will be hosted by Türkiye.”

Turkiye-Greece CBM talks

The CBM talks are part of an ongoing bilateral process aimed at fostering mutual trust and preventing accidental escalation between the two countries, which have had a historically contentious relationship.

Despite sharing NATO membership, Greece and Turkiye have been involved in numerous disputes over maritime boundaries, airspace violations, energy exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, and sovereignty issues in the Aegean Sea. These tensions have brought the two countries to the brink of military confrontation on several occasions, most notably in 2020.

The recent meeting represents another step in efforts to break this cycle of hostilities. The delegations reviewed the implementation of confidence-building agreements from previous years and assessed their effectiveness.

Increasing military-to-military contact

Key measures include military-to-military contact mechanisms, direct lines of communication between defense and foreign ministers, joint disaster response exercises, mutual language training programs, and environmental cooperation initiatives along the Meric River.

According to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, the talks were marked by a “positive and constructive atmosphere,” a tone that has become increasingly prominent in recent rounds of dialogue. The Greek Ministry of National Defense hosted this latest session, reinforcing a spirit of mutual engagement and diplomatic reciprocity that both sides have been striving to maintain.

“Both delegations reviewed the previously agreed Confidence Building Measures through 2025 and discussed the implementation plan for 2026,” the ministry’s statement said. “The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere. The next meeting will be hosted by Türkiye.”

The recurring military CBM talks are intended to provide a structured channel for dialogue even during times of bilateral tension. In this context, the positive tone of the Thessaloniki meeting is seen as a promising development, especially considering the history of periodic crises that have strained Greek-Turkish relations over the years. These include aerial dogfights over the Aegean, military mobilizations, and aggressive rhetoric over territorial disputes.

While no new CBMs were publicly announced during the Thessaloniki round, the continuity of dialogue and reaffirmation of past agreements suggest a degree of resilience in the diplomatic process. Analysts note that sustained engagement through CBMs may help stabilize the military aspect of Greek-Turkish relations, even as political disputes remain unresolved.

Disaster response exercises

The joint disaster response exercises discussed in the talks are especially notable, as they offer an opportunity for cooperation in non-combat domains that benefit both populations directly. Similarly, the focus on language training exchanges and environmental collaboration represents an effort to build trust through softer, people-centered channels.

The CBM framework allows both sides to manage their differences through scheduled, face-to-face meetings rather than through reactive measures or provocations. This framework is vital within the NATO context, where unity and coordination among member states are essential, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical challenges in the wider region.

Both Turkiye and Greece have expressed a willingness to continue this process, with the next round of talks already scheduled to take place in Turkiye. The announcement reflects an important aspect of CBMs, consistency and predictability, which can help build trust incrementally over time.

Far-reaching strategic goals

The path to long-term resolution of the core disputes between the two countries remains uncertain, but forums such as the CBM talks offer a mechanism for dialogue and conflict prevention. With both sides reaffirming their commitment to the process, the Thessaloniki talks may serve as a modest but meaningful step toward more stable relations in the years ahead.

As the Eastern Mediterranean remains a strategic flashpoint, particularly concerning energy resources and regional alliances, sustained Greek-Turkish engagement in CBMs will likely continue to play a critical role in maintaining regional stability. The next round of discussions in Turkiye will be closely watched as a test of whether the constructive momentum built in Thessaloniki can be sustained.