Athens, 26 June 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are to hold bilateral talks during the NATO summit in Vilnius next month to discuss points of conflict between the two countries, Mitsotakis' office said on Monday.

During a phone call on Monday, Erdoğan congratulated Mitsotakis on his re-election in Sunday's elections. Mitsotakis' clear victory will allow him to govern without a coalition partner.

The meeting between the two NATO members is being seen as a sign of easing tensions. The two countries have clashed over territorial rights over the eastern Mediterranean and its large natural gas reserves.

Erdoğan and his ministers have also challenged Greek sovereignty over dozens of islands in the Aegean, including Rhodes and Lesbos. Erdoğan has repeatedly threatened to invade Greek islands, drawing sharp criticism from the European Union.

Greek assistance to Turkey following the early February earthquake has helped to ease tensions. According to the Greek military, Turkish military aircraft have ceased overflying Greek islands off the Turkish coast.

Last year, Turkish combat jets overflew Greek territory 234 times in a major violation of its sovereignty.