The revelation of a surprise meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Donald Trump Jr. in Istanbul—combined with the upcoming official Erdoğan–Trump meeting at the White House on September 25—has sent shockwaves through regional diplomacy and raised alarms in Athens.
According to Middle East Eye and other confirmed sources, Trump Jr. traveled secretly to Turkey with a group of business figures in what opposition voices describe as “back-channel diplomacy,” while government insiders downplay it as a mere “courtesy visit.”
Turkey’s opposition leader, Özgür Özel (CHP), accused Erdoğan of leveraging Gaza and Syria as bargaining chips with Washington: “While Palestine bleeds, they’re doing business with Trump’s son through lobbying firms,” he said, revealing that Turkish protocol listed the visitor only as a “businessman.” Despite denials from a Turkish source speaking to DW, speculation persists that the talks touched on F-16 acquisitions, possible re-entry into the F-35 program, and tensions with Israel over Syria and Gaza.
Just days earlier, Erdoğan publicly posted that his “meeting with my dear friend President Donald Trump will help end wars in our region and strengthen our strategic partnership.” Trump, on Truth Social, wrote that he looks forward to finalizing major deals with Ankara—including Boeing purchases, an F-16 deal, and continued F-35 discussions. These remarks, paired with closed-door contacts, signal Washington’s intent to restore Turkey’s pivotal role on the geopolitical stage, sending an unsettling message to Greece and the EU.
Athens and Nicosia are watching closely. Greek diplomatic sources fear that U.S.–Turkish rapprochement could pressure Greece and Cyprus to make concessions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The Greek government has intensified consultations with Brussels, Paris, and Washington to ensure Ankara’s potential upgrade within NATO does not come at the expense of Greek interests. Analysts highlight that while Ankara presents itself as a peacemaker, it continues provocations in the Aegean, underscoring the need for vigilance and strong alliances.
