Pompeo says US-Greek relations at 'all-time high,' urges Athens-Ankara talks
In Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Athens and Ankara to resume talks over maritime disputes ahead of an EU summit later this week that is expected to address lingering tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
ISTANBUL — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Greece Monday and urged Athens and Ankara to resume talks over lingering disputes over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
During his two-day visit, Pompeo said US-Greece relations were at an “all-time high” Tuesday, highlighting increased security cooperation between Washington and Athens before prompting Greece and Turkey to de-escalate a long-running spat over contested areas of the Mediterranean.
The visit comes ahead of an EU summit later this week in which the leaders of member states will consider imposing sanctions on Ankara for gas exploration activities in disputed waters that have been put on hold to allow for bilateral talks between the neighboring NATO allies.
On Sept. 10, Turkish and Greek military delegations began a series of technical talks at the NATO headquarters in Brussels and broader exploratory talks between state leaders are expected to begin soon, a move Pompeo lauded.
