Turkey’s president has ordered discussions regarding the potential reopening of the Halki Seminary, a historic Orthodox theological school that has been closed for over half a century. The move follows a request from US President Donald Trump, who will visit Ankara next month for a NATO summit. The seminary, belonging to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was shut down in 1971, a decision that has long been a point of contention between Turkey, Greece, and the European Union. Reopening the school is seen as a potential gesture of goodwill and a step towards improving relations. Greece and the EU have consistently called for the seminary’s restoration, viewing its closure as a violation of religious freedom. The timing of the announcement suggests a possible attempt to address concerns ahead of the NATO summit and broader diplomatic engagements.