Greek Prime Minister received in Ankara during NATO summit

On July 7, 2026, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara for meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit. During his arrival at the presidential palace, he was welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with a performance by the Mehter band, a traditional Ottoman military musical unit. The band played the march 'Ceddin Deden', which translates to 'Your ancestor, your father' and is known as an Ottoman military anthem praising historical conquests. The event sparked public discussion regarding the symbolism of the choice of music given the historical context of Greek-Turkish relations. Mitsotakis was accompanied by his wife, Mareva, and members of his diplomatic and communications staff, including Katerina Nasika, Giorgos Efthymiou, Kyra Kapi, and Aristotelia Peloni. While some media outlets characterized the choice of music as provocative or a deliberate display of historical power, others noted it is a standard piece performed during official ceremonies in Turkey. The two leaders exchanged greetings and posed for photos before proceeding with their scheduled diplomatic engagements.