ATHENS – As Greek and Turkish officials are due to meet in Athens in March for a second session of resumed exploratory talks – for the 61st time – the European Union will the same month discuss how to ratchet down the tension over claims to the seas.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis late in 2020 withdrew his demand for sanctions to give diplomacy a chance, only to renew them when that didn’t work, and pulled back again to let the technical talks resume. 

The strategic debate on the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU-Turkish relationship will take place in March, said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, representing the heads of state of the 27 member states.

Speaking after a summit of EU leaders, Michel noted Turkey’s importance as a member of the defense alliance without noting it had acquired a Russian-made S-400 missile defense that could undermine NATO and Greece in a conflict.