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Turkey-Greece intelligence diplomacy and secret meetings

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2026-09-08 15:30 UTC → 2026-09-10 17:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

İbrahim Kalın, ~~the~~ head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and special envoy for President Erdoğan, conducted a high-level visit to Athens to meet with Greek Intelligence Service (EYP) head Themistoklis Demiris and other officials. The summit addressed various security and diplomatic issues, including counter-terrorism, human trafficking, organized crime, and regional security. Discussions also covered long-standing disputes such as maritime boundaries and the militarization of islands. While Turkey expressed a commitment to a “constructive and good-natured approach,” it also stated it would not tolerate unilateral actions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The secretive nature of the visit drew political criticism in Greece. The opposition party SYRIZA demanded explanations from the Mitsotakis government, questioning why Parliament and the opposition were not notified. SYRIZA criticized the use of “secret diplomacy” and raised concerns regarding whether the meetings addressed Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine. New reports from the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak suggest the visit may have included a secret meeting at the Maximos Mansion with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to convey messages from President Erdoğan. According to these reports, Kalın warned that Turkey would not accept the militarization of Greek islands or the creation of new security lines through cooperation with Israel, specifically referencing the Achilles Shield defense system. In response, the Niki party has demanded immediate explanations, calling for institutional transparency regarding matters of national sovereignty. Recent reports regarding the unannounced meeting highlight differing perspectives on its agenda. Turkish security sources suggest discussions focused on combating terrorism, espionage, organized crime, and irregular migration, alongside regional stability in the Middle East, Syria, and Libya. Greek reports indicate the meeting also addressed the presence of Turkish criminal networks and migrant smuggling operations. In a separate diplomatic development, Israel has appointed Joel Lion as its temporary chargé d’affaires to Turkey.

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