Georgetown Journal Revisits Türkiye-Greece Rapprochement as Disputes Stay Unresolved
By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
A recent analysis published by Georgetown Journal of International Affairs returns to a familiar question in Eastern Mediterranean diplomacy: whether any meaningful rapprochement between Türkiye and Greece is still possible after decades of unresolved disputes.
In "Rapprochement Between Greece and Türkiye. Seemingly Impossible, Yet Not Unimaginable", the journal argues that tensions between Ankara and Athens are rooted not only in recurring diplomatic crises, but in a wider set of disputes stretching across Cyprus, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. The article underlines a basic divergence in how the two sides define the problem. Greece tends to treat the disagreements more narrowly, with the emphasis on maritime delimitation. Türkiye sees a broader picture that includes sovereignty, airspace and security.
The analysis does not suggest that a breakthrough is close. Its argument is narrower. Exploratory talks, renewed diplomatic contact and moments of crisis-driven solidarity may still be enough to preserve a limited channel of communication, even if the underlying disputes remain in place. The emphasis is on restraint rather than resolution. In that reading, avoiding unilateral moves and keeping tensions manageable appears more realistic than expecting a comprehensive settlement.
That assessment overlaps with earlier Bosphorus News coverage. In "Parallel Monologues: Fidan, Gerapetritis, and the Illusion of Dialogue", Bosphorus News argued that Ankara and Athens use the language of dialogue in different ways, shaped by distinct strategic priorities and threat perceptions.
Another layer sits deeper than immediate policy disputes. As discussed in "When Memory Enters the Sea", tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean are not driven only by legal claims or technical disagreements. Historical memory and identity also shape how sovereignty, risk and compromise are understood.
The Cyprus file adds another constraint. In "Myths and Realities of Cyprus, Fifteen Years On", Bosphorus News examined how entrenched narratives and unresolved questions of political equality continue to shape the island's status and narrow the room for a durable settlement.
The Georgetown article reflects where much of the Western policy conversation now stands. Confidence in a major breakthrough has weakened. What remains is an effort to keep a difficult relationship from hardening into a new crisis while the disputes at its core remain unresolved.
***For GJIA full report: https://gjia.georgetown.edu/conflict-security/rapprochement-between-greece-and-turkiye-seemingly-impossible-yet-not-unimaginable/