Greek Foreign Policy

Ankara in the Mediterranean is violating international law and torpedoing stability at a time when the Ukrainian front is able to trigger wider geopolitical turbulence.

We no longer live in a bipolar world. There are constant geopolitical shifts and it is not at all clear that democracies have the upper hand.

Despite the evolving crises in Europe, there is a common denominator and a mutual understanding between EU member-states in approaching issues of social cohesion and the EU acquis.

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ trip to Washington triggered hostile outbursts against him from Ankara, which is attempting to exploit current challenges to its benefit.

'Greece solemnly calls upon Turkey to stop questioning Greece’s sovereignty over its .Aegean islands through legally baseless and historically false assertions,' wrote Greece's UN envoy.

Greece is a member of NATO, of the EU and the eurozone. Russia’s initiative is a flagrant violation of international law and poses additional dangers for our country.

The Greek side should be very careful, taking into account its membership in of NATO and the EU, with all the accompanying commitments, while maintaining traditional ties with Russia.

The next step and visionary objective is also linked to Europe, and it is the development of a common European defence – with Macron’s rationale – European sovereignty.

There are many diplomatic traps and any move can boomerang if it is not properly prepared. Greece must maintain a calm and stable stance on the Ukrainian issue.

At a time when a series of issues remain open, Greece and Russia have a certain osmosis that will continue with cooperation and communication.

'What we have achieved is to raise awareness of Europe as a whole about the strategic importance of the Mediterranean basin and especially of the Eastern Mediterranean,' the PM said.

Turkish policy - or “provocative behaviour” as Athens terms it - should under no circumstances act as a hindrance in pursuing a bilateral dialogue.

What would happen for example if a Turkish ship were conducting exploration and Ankara had issued a NAVTEX tying up the sea area?

Often in the past when leaders were managing national issues other political forces were opening domestic fronts as tacticians and engaging in power plays.

Ensuring Greek national interests requires vigilance and a series of steps that will demonstrate that Greece is not merely an observer or trailing behind.

Defence cannot be excluded from the EU's new path. On the contrary, a new defence planning in light of all recent developments is mandatory.

As a mature European democracy Greece must become an example and restart its relations with less mature Balkan democracies and with an authoritarian Turkish democracy.

One reason the economy must be bolstered is so that the government can place limits on the objectives and behaviours of international players.

The prime minister is also responsible for entrusting crucial areas of government policy to people who managed public interests based on their personal interest, with an unprecedented Napoleonic stance.