Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos announced that, on April 4, at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, he would visit Turkish areas devastated by the earthquake.

In a press briefing, Panagiotopoulos said that "A few days ago, in the context of exchanging messages of condolences in connection with the devastating earthquake in Turkiye, as well as the railway tragedy in Tempi, my colleague suggested that I visit the earthquake-affected areas ... We have chosen April 4. We will visit the earthquake-affected areas in southeastern Turkiye."

Regardless, the Defense Minister clarified that the trip was not intended to settle every issue between Greece and Turkey.

Greece and Turkey have been at odds over maritime borders and energy exploration rights in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas. Erdogan accused Greece of "occupying" the Aegean islands, whose status was determined by treaties signed following World War I. 

Simultaneously, Athens accused Turkey of carrying out hundreds of illegal military sorties over the islands.

However, revelations in late December suggest that Germany hosted a secret meeting in Belgium between top foreign policy advisors to the leaders of Greece and Turkey to discuss the normalization of ties between the two countries after years of tension.

Greece 'strategic hub' for US, NATO military expansion in Europe: US

Greece has emerged as a "strategic hub" that serves to expand the US military's presence in the region and strengthen NATO's eastern flank, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said on Tuesday during a visit to Athens.

"One of the new sites supports military transport around the Port of Alexandroupoli, which has become, indeed, a key strategic hub, including bringing in defensive weaponry, trucks, and artillery for US military units that are operating in Eastern and Northern Europe, as well as NATO Allies," Blinken stated during a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

The two senior officials met in the framework of the Fourth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue that "builds off of the last [Third US-Greece] Strategic Dialogue" held in 2021, Blinken noted.

The State Secretary announced that the US invested $123 million in Greece's Souda Bay naval base and the Larissa air base.

"This port [of Alexandroupoli] has been vital to reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank since President Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. The United States is grateful for Greece’s unwavering support for Ukraine since the invasion," Blinken added.

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