Coverage of February 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes in Greek Media: Is This a New Earthquake Diplomacy?

Past recollections of problems provide an essential context for present-day Greek-Turkish relations. The news value of a major disaster is higher in its neighboring country than in other countries. From the past to the present, on occasion of great disasters, considerable public empathy has been provided on both sides, and this situation has been reflected through the media. This article aims to analyze the news coverage of Greek media to determine whether the "earthquake diplomacy" activities were carried out after the February 2023 Türkiye earthquakes, as happened in the 1999 earthquakes. In this context, relevant news in the sample (Kathimerini, Avgi, Naftemporiki) newspapers were analyzed in content for three weeks. Analysis findings show that the newspapers convey earthquake news in line with geographical and emotional proximity values. Earthquake victims' stories have been covered in search of an emotional connection with the reader. The contacts of senior officials on both sides were widely covered in the newspapers, but the officials' statements could not go beyond the earthquake issues and the goodwill wishes. In addition, a significant amount of criticism of the Turkish government in the Greek media, which is a catalyst in bilateral relations, emerges as a negative factor in the direction of relations. It was observed that most of the discourse on disputed issues focused on blaming the other party for current problems and taking little responsibility for the solution of these problems. The limited scope of the small amount of positive discourse seems ineffective for a possible acceleration in bilateral relations. As a result, since the conditions in 2023 are different from those of 1999 and the conditions are not necessarily favorable for bilateral relations, it is perceived that adequate earthquake diplomacy activities cannot be carried out for a new rapprochement phase between the two countries.