Greek port authorities and Turkey’s coast guard officials will hold a technical meeting on November 12.
The long-awaited resolution between the two groups has been postponed due to rising conflict, which is largely over the Greek islands claiming rights over the sea.
Since 1974, Turkey has refused to acknowledge the validity of these rights, which include the outer 4-mile belt of airspace that extends beyond Greek territorial waters.
Improving communication between the two nations, combatting human trafficking and seeking methods to enhance cooperation in the Aegean Sea will be the primary focus of this meeting.
The migration crisis between both countries will also be closely examined on the island of Chios to strengthen maritime security.
Greek officials highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination among the growing migration issues faced by both.
Minister of Interior for Turkey, Ali Yerlikaya, previously stated: “We believe that when the land borders are sealed, then refugees and migrants turn to the sea and so we’ll improve our cooperation there as well.”
Dimitris Kairidis, the Greek minister of migration and asylum and Yerlikaya previously reached an agreement between the two countries to halt illegal flows of people across the land border the two nations share.
The mounting issues regarding migration were further exacerbated after a recent tragic shipwreck off the coast of Samos.
A small boat carrying migrants from nearby Turkey sank in the eastern Aegean Sea off the Greek island of Samos, which killed at least four people.
Another separate incident recently occurred near Kos on October 16, 2024.
A boat sank off the Greek island, which resulted in the deaths of four migrants and the rescue of 27 others.
The incident also saw Greek Coast Guard officials clashing with traffickers, which left two officers injured and the trafficker being hospitalised.
Alongside their alliance against migration, vessels departing from Turkey and reaching the Greek islands will also be examined further.
A senior official noted that these vessels’ journeys need to be faster and require more direct cooperation between Turkey and Greece’s maritime forces.
Yerlikaya is expected to visit Greece later in November, which will be seen as an additional renewal of the two nations’ cooperation to strengthen bilateral efforts and explore further ways to help with maritime security and migration issues.
These upcoming talks will be a sign of both countries’ renewed commitment to tackling problems in the Aegean region.