Baerbock urges dialogue over Greece-Turkey dispute

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was meeting with officials in Greece and Turkiye. Baerbock criticized Ankara for disputing the sovereignty of Greek islands near its coastline. NATO members Greece and Turkiye have been at odds for decades over sea boundaries, related drilling rights and the war-divided island of Cyprus, disputes that have brought the two neighbors to the brink of war on several occasions.

Turkish officials say the sovereignty of eastern Greek islands can be disputed if it keeps a military presence there in violation of its treaty commitments. Athens disputes that view and has accused Turkiye of carrying out frequent military overflights at its islands in the eastern Aegean Sea.