Bloomberg: The reopening of Halki is “key” to Greek-Turkish relations — U.S. and EU pressure on Ankara

The campaign of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could change the political climate in the U.S. and Europe, while Athens is closely monitoring the developments.

The future of the Halki Theological School is once again at the center of international developments, as Ankara considers a new framework for its reopening that is directly linked to its relations with Turkey with the United States, the European Union, and Greece. The historic School, which has remained closed since 1971, is back on the agenda through a complex diplomatic dialogue, in which the Erdoğan factor, interventions by Washington, and European demands for religious freedoms are shaping a new reality. Its potential reopening is not merely a matter of religious education, but is evolving into a barometer of the climate of trust in the region, Ankara’s stance toward the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the broader direction of Greek-Turkish relations.

Turkey plans to allow the reopening, the Theological School of Halki as a university institution, after more than 50 years. A move that according to Bloomberg, aims to please U.S. President Donald Trump, as its reopening has long been a key demand of both the EU and the U.S..

Bloomberg’s sources

The issue of reopening the Halki Theological School is back in the spotlight ahead of Donald Trump’s expected visit to Ankara for thenext month and as part of Turkey’s effort to open a new chapter in its relations with both the U.S. and the EU.

Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that the plan for the Halki Theological School, located on an island near Istanbul, calls for the admission of students through Turkey’s national quota system, while the Ministry of Education will oversee the curricula.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, discussed the possible reopening of the School during a meeting held on Tuesday in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The talks between Bartholomew and Erdoğan took place in a “warm atmosphere,” according to a statement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The reopening of the Theological School is important for the Patriarchate’s ability to train future senior clergy. The Theological School, founded in 1844, was closed by the Turkish government in 1971. Bartholomew, with the support of Greece, the European Union, and the United States, has long been campaigning for its reopening.

The Ecumenical Patriarch’s meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

At a particularly significant juncture for relations between the Turkish state and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met in Ankara with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

The meeting took place at the Presidential Palace and, according to the Patriarchate’s official announcement, was held in a cordial atmosphere, focusing on issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek community of Istanbul, and outstanding matters that have remained unresolved for decades.

Particular emphasis was placed on the issue of reopening the Theological School of Halki, an issue of great symbolic significance both for Orthodoxy and for Turkey’s relations with the international community. According to the Patriarchate, during the meeting, the progress of the ongoing discussions between the Phanar, the Turkish Ministry of Education, and the country’s Council of Higher Education regarding the future of the School.

It should be noted that Halki has remained closed since 1971, when its operations were suspended following a ruling by the Turkish Constitutional Court regarding private institutions of higher education. For the Ecumenical Patriarchate, its reopening is a matter of strategic importance, as it is the historic theological center for the education of its clergy. In recent years, and particularly following interventions by the United States, the European Union, and international ecclesiastical bodies, the issue has returned forcefully to the agenda.

Expectations for a positive outcome have grown in recent months. Patriarch Bartholomew himself, in recent public statements, has expressed optimism that the School could resume operations once the ongoing restoration work is completed. At the same time, Turkish media and government circles have hinted that Ankara is seriously considering a model for resuming its operations.

In addition to Halki, the meeting addressed issues concerning the presence and rights of the Greek diaspora in Turkey.

Specifically, regarding the issue of religious freedoms, the international press views the issue of Halki as an “indicator” of Turkey’s stance toward religious freedoms and non-Muslim communities. The reopening of the School has been a demand of the U.S., European institutions, and international organizations for decades.

In fact, according to international observers, the meeting between Bartholomew and Erdoğan is part of a broader effort to improve Turkey’s international image regarding religious freedoms. It is also worth noting that yesterday’s meeting did not take place in a political vacuum. Since 2024, an institutional dialogue has been underway between the Turkish government and the Patriarchate regarding the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, while Bartholomew himself has repeatedly stated that he expects it to resume operations in 2026.

After all, the reopening of Halki is a long-standing demand not only of the Ecumenical Patriarchate but also of Washington, European institutions, and a large part of the Orthodox world. As early as the fall of 2025, President Erdoğan had left open the possibility of positive developments, and the issue had even been raised during his meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump.