Birthday diplomacy continued between Turkey and Greece as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on turning 72.
In recent years, it has become a practice for Erdoğan and Mitsotakis to exchange birthday greetings by phone, a trend that began in 2024. Erdoğan is expected to call Mitsotakis on March 4 to wish the prime minister a happy birthday.
According to a statement from the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan held separate phone calls with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Bosniak member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency Denis Becirovic and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis.
Leaders congratulated Erdoğan on his birthday during their conversations. Erdoğan thanked counterparts and reiterated commitment to further advancing bilateral ties with their countries.
MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli also marked the occasion by sending Erdoğan 72 roses and a painting.
Last year, Erdoğan received birthday calls from Aliyev, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Mitsotakis, according to official statements at the time.
