started · updated
Turkish intelligence chief makes secret visit to Athens
Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin reportedly made a secret visit to Athens to meet with the director of Greece’s National Intelligence Service, Themistoklis Demiris. This intelligence-level contact occurs amid ongoing maritime border disputes in the Aegean Sea and heightened security concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The meeting follows a $3.5 billion defense agreement between Greece and Israel, which includes the development of the Achilles Shield multi-layered air defense system. This growing defense partnership between Athens and Israel has reportedly caused concern in Ankara, particularly as tensions between Turkey and Israel have increased.
In a separate diplomatic development, Israel has appointed Joel Lion as its temporary chargé d’affaires to Turkey. Lion presented his credentials in Ankara, marking the first public diplomatic visit by an Israeli official to Turkey since the evacuation of the Israeli embassy in 2023 due to security concerns and deteriorating bilateral relations.
Entities
Ibrahim Kalin · Joel Lion · Kyriakos Mitsotakis · MIT · Maximos Mansion · NIKI party · National Intelligence Organisation · National Intelligence Service · Themistoklis Demiris · İbrahim Kalın
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The intelligence-level contact occurs amid maritime border disputes in the Aegean Sea and strengthening defense ties between Greece and Israel. greeknewsondemand.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Greece and Israel signed a $3.5 billion defense deal to develop the Achilles Shield air defense system. greeknewsondemand.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin made a secret visit to Athens to meet with Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP) director Themistoklis Demiris. greeknewsondemand.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Joel Lion's visit marks the first public diplomatic visit by an Israeli official to Turkey since the 2023 embassy evacuation. worldisraelnews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Israel’s temporary chargé d’affaires for relations with Turkey, Joel Lion, presented his credentials at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara. worldisraelnews.com