Turkish Intelligence Chief Visits Greece Amid Rising Tensions with Israel and Aegean Disputes
Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin reportedly made a secret visit to Athens last week for talks with his Greek counterpart, Themistoklis Demiris, director of Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP). This development comes amid renewed tensions over the Aegean Sea, deepening Greece-Israel defense ties, and broader security concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece and Turkey have long-standing disputes over maritime borders, the status and militarization of Aegean islands, and Cyprus. The visit occurred days after Greece and Israel signed a $3.5 billion defense deal for a multi-layered air defense system, which has become a source of concern for Ankara due to increased tensions between Turkey and Israel. While Greek accounts emphasized intelligence and security cooperation on issues like organized crime, migrant-smuggling, terrorism, and espionage, Turkish reports indicated Kalin conveyed Ankara’s desire for a constructive relationship with Greece while insisting on its rights and interests, ...