The teams of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are trying to find an opening in their schedules to make possible the meeting that was postponed today. According to diplomatic sources, today’s postponement — which is currently “up in the air” — is considered completely justified by the Greek side. However, the same sources note that if the Turkish side claims that a meeting tomorrow is impossible, this would be merely a pretext.
The request to postpone was submitted by the Turkish side due to President Erdogan’s participation in the meeting of Arab and Muslim country leaders organized by U.S. President Donald Trump. Erdogan was invited on Trump’s initiative, given Turkey’s direct involvement in several Middle Eastern fronts.
Since the Trump-organized meeting was scheduled to start at 21:30 Greek time, while the Mitsotakis–Erdogan meeting was set for 21:00 Greek time, there was no room for a substantial discussion between the two leaders — especially as the Turkish president always uses a translator, which reduces the effective time for meetings.
Thus, the Turkish side has notified the Greek side, and a new time tomorrow in New York is now being sought based on both leaders’ schedules. Erdogan is scheduled to depart New York at 6:00 p.m. local time tomorrow to travel to Washington, where on Thursday he will meet Donald Trump at the White House.
In any case, the time available for a meeting that allows for meaningful discussion is tight, given both leaders’ schedules.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ schedule in New York tomorrow, as currently known, is as follows:
- Wednesday, 8:15 a.m. (New York time): Speech at an event organized by Australia on “Protecting Children in the Digital Age.”
- 10:30 a.m.: Discussion with Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker.
- 12:30 p.m.: Speech at a Greek-American community event at the Union League Club.
Afternoon: Meeting with Syria’s transitional President Ahmed Al-Sarra.
- 3:00 p.m.: Speech at an event organized by the Korean Presidency of the UN Security Council on “Artificial Intelligence and International Peace & Security.”
- 8:30 p.m.: Speech at the award ceremony of the Ecumenical Patriarch receiving the Templeton Prize.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s schedule, as currently known, is as follows:
Wednesday, 24 September 2025 (New York)
- 11:00 a.m.: Coffee meeting with Hamdi Ulukaya, President of the Turkish-American Business Council, and American CEOs
(Location: Türkevi, 6th floor) - 1:00 p.m.: Bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron
(Location: UN Headquarters) - 2:00 p.m.: Speech at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit
(Location: UN Headquarters / Trusteeship Council Chamber) - 3:30 p.m.: Bilateral meeting with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong
(Location: Türkevi, 10th floor) - 4:30 p.m.: Meeting with Turkish press representatives
(Location: Türkevi, 6th floor) - 6:00 p.m.: Departure for Washington
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