In brief
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on 24 September 2026 that Turkey is a neighbor and NATO ally of Greece rather than an adversary.
Erdogan urged Greek political leaders not to use bilateral relations as campaign material ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for May.
At the 81st UN General Assembly, Erdogan proposed a regional Aegean conference and called for diplomatic recognition of northern Cyprus.
A senior Greek government official in New York acknowledged a shift in Turkish rhetoric and stated that lowering tension remains the top priority.
- UN General Assembly speechErdogan proposes an Aegean conference and calls on the international community to recognize northern Cyprus.
- Presidential aircraft briefingErdogan tells reporters Turkey is a NATO ally of Greece and urges keeping bilateral ties out of May election campaigns.
- Greek official response in New YorkA senior Greek government official notes the rhetorical shift and calls for a reduction in bilateral tension.
- Scheduled Mitsotakis addressGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis prepares his address to the UN General Assembly.
Diplomatic statements in New York
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed bilateral relations between Ankara and Athens on 24 September 2026, speaking to journalists aboard his presidential aircraft following meetings at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Erdogan conducted several bilateral discussions with foreign leaders and international officials during the annual summit before addressing Greek-Turkish ties. During the press briefing, Erdogan stated that Turkey does not consider Greece an enemy, characterizing the relationship as one between neighbors who share a mutual alliance within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
“Turkey is not an enemy of Greece, but a neighbor and an ally under NATO.”
Erdogan stated that his administration concentrates on Turkey's domestic agenda, sovereign rights, and national security interests, with the objective of preserving peace and tranquility across the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.
Greek electoral campaign and defense procurement
Journalists on board questioned Erdogan regarding political debate in Greece ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for May. The questioning referenced discussions in Athens concerning the procurement and sale of F-35 fighter jets, as well as past warnings to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis regarding the internationalization of bilateral disputes. In response, Erdogan insisted that Ankara holds no interest in the internal political dynamics of Greece, stating that changes in government or parliamentary opposition do not affect Turkey's stance. He argued that foreign relations between the two Aegean neighbors should remain separated from electioneering.
“The relations between the two countries are very sensitive and important to be used as campaign material.”
UN General Assembly podium and Cyprus
The press conference followed Erdogan's address before the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. From the assembly podium, the Turkish president discussed persistent maritime and sovereignty issues in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean basin. He reiterated a Turkish diplomatic proposal to convene a comprehensive regional conference aimed at establishing common ground among all regional stakeholders. Erdogan also addressed the Cyprus division during his assembly speech, calling directly on the international community to formally recognize the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to establish political, diplomatic, and economic relations with the territory.
Response from Athens in New York
Following Erdogan's press briefing and hours before Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly, a senior Greek government official met with reporters in New York. The Greek official stated that Erdogan's statements represented a different direction from rhetoric heard in the recent past. Emphasizing that geography requires both nations to live side by side, the official stated that Athens views the reduction of bilateral tension as the immediate priority. The official added that Greece bears no responsibility for previous escalations in tensions across the Aegean.