Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey will no longer hold high-level talks with neighbouring Greece, AP News reports.
“We broke off our high-level strategy council meetings with Greece,” Erdogan told a meeting of his party’s lawmakers in Ankara.
“Don’t you learn any lessons from history? Don’t try to dance with Turkey.”
Ankara resumed talks with Athens last year after a five-year hiatus, but little progress was made. The talks were meant to address differences over a number of issues including mineral exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.
READ MORE: Greece and Turkey launch Mediterranean crisis talks after 5 years.
Erdogan’s new stance on the talks comes after he signalled his displeasure at comments made by Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during a trip to the US last week.
The Turkish President said Mitsotakis “no longer exists” for him after accusing the Greek leader of trying to block Turkey’s acquisition of F-16 fighter planes.
Turkey and Greece, both NATO allies, have long been at odds over a host of issues such as maritime boundaries, the extent of their continental shelves, airspace, and ethnically split Cyprus.
READ MORE: Exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey conclude amid renewed maritime dispute.
Source: AP News.
