In a bid to bolster bilateral security cooperation, Greek Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci convened in Athens to address a host of pressing security issues. The discussions, which took place at Greece’s Ministry of Citizen Protection, were a follow-up to the Greece–Türkiye Supreme Cooperation Council meeting held in Ankara earlier this year.
The focal points of the meeting included combating organized crime, terrorism, extremism, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. The ministers also tackled the issue of criminal networks exploiting undocumented migrants and concerns related to money laundering activities tied to illegal enterprises. Chrysochoidis highlighted the necessity of improving information sharing and operational coordination between Greek and Turkish security agencies to effectively tackle these challenges.
During the meeting, Chrysochoidis expressed concerns about Turkish nationals allegedly connected to criminal groups operating within Greece. His Turkish counterpart, Ciftci, acknowledged the current level of cooperation and expressed interest in enhancing joint efforts, particularly in disrupting criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
This dialogue between Greece and Türkiye reflects ongoing efforts to address shared security threats despite enduring differences between the two nations. Both ministers underscored the importance of collaboration in facing these challenges and reiterated their commitment to strengthening security ties.