Turkey, Greece talks to resume on March 16 in Athens

Turkey and Greece are set to being a second round of talks aimed at addressing maritime disputes on March 16-17 in Athens, the Turkish foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

The announcement arrives ahead of a European Union summit slated for later this month, where bloc leaders will discuss the dispute and whether to impose sanctions against Turkey over oil and gas exploration by Turkish vessels in the disputed waters of the eastern Mediterranean.

“The next round of Consultative Talks and Political Consultations between Turkey and Greece will take place in Athens on 16-17 March 2021,” the foreign ministry said.

Turkey is locked in disputes with both Greece and Cyprus over territorial waters in the Aegean and Mediterranean. Turkey this summer sent ships to drill for gas off Cyprus to press its claim to the waters there, in a move that escalated tension.

Turkey's assertive stance in the maritime dispute is being challenged by a bloc comprising Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel. 

EU leaders in December agreed to impose sanctions on individuals involved in Turkey’s drilling activities in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, but stopped short of targeting the Turkish economy directly and indicated the situation would be reviewed again in March.