After 1999, Turkish–Greek relations entered a promising process of rapprochement, also referred to as detente, which lasted until 2016. The terms ‘detente’ and ‘rapprochement’ can be used interchangeably, as their definitions are quite similar. While ‘detente’ defines an improvement in the relationship between two countries that in the past were not friendly towards and did not trust each other, ‘rapprochement’ refers to the development of friendlier relations between countries or groups of people who have been enemies (Oxford Dictionary, 2006). Although all early attempts at easing the tension between Turkey and Greece had failed, earthquakes in both Turkey and Greece, in August and September 1999, respectively, created empathy and solidarity among Turks and Greeks and provided fertile ground for decision-makers to implement their already launched initiatives towards dialogue. The process started with ‘low politics’ – including economy, trade, energy, tourism and so on – rather than the traditional ‘high politics’ since there existed great suspicion due to core issues such as the Aegean and Cyprus (Lesser, 2001, 5; Oniş, 2001, 42; Liaropoulos, 2008, 28–29). However, both sides believed that it would be much more meaningful to focus on the core issues if the current dialogue- and confidencebuilding measures were consolidated and extended. With the initiation of the rapprochement process, Turkey and Greece have made serious progress in fields such as energy, economy and minority rights.

The rapprochement period has found overwhelming support on both sides, with 89 percent of the Turkish elites in favour, in contrast to 63.5 percent of their Greek counterparts, according to elite surveys jointly conducted by Triantaphyllou, Ifantis and Dizdaroğlu in both Greece and Turkey in 2015 and 2016, respectively. This support is quite valuable considering that the level of trust towards each other is relatively low. According to the surveys, only 28 percent of the Turkish elites think that Turkey can trust Greece, while the level of trust towards Turkey is much lower (11.4 percent) among the Greek elites. Despite their lack of trust, both countries’ elites are in favour of the rapprochement. The focus on elites rather than public opinion is crucial since ‘the competition among elites not only shapes public opinion but helps to formulate policy as well’ (Triantaphyllou, 2017).