“Greece is a powerful EU and NATO Member State, with strategic relations with the US”
“Greece is a powerful Member State of the European Union and NATO, a country that has strategic relations with the US, which it wants to deepen, and a country that can now form European policies,” the prime minister stressed, “the prime minister said,” the prime minister said. Kyriakos Mitsotakis During his discussion with Robert D. Kaplan as part of the Delphi Economic Forum.
He noted that his government’s primary goal is to consolidate Greece’s security that is a prerequisite for prosperity.
Concerning the debate on the new US government’s initiatives on the imposition of duties on European products, the prime minister made it clear that “Greece has every interest in being in favor of free trade”, he expressed his satisfaction with Donald Trump’s decision to freeze 90 Between the EU and the USA to bring about a mutually beneficial agreement. ” “A trade war between them will only have lost. We need to take advantage of these 90 days in order to have a honest discussion. International markets have sent the clear message that duties are a source of intense reflection, “he said.
Also, according to the EIA RES, Mr Mitsotakis reiterated that there is no reason to impose tariffs on products such as oil, olives and feta, which do not affect the productive base in the US.
“As we increase wages and jobs we will have even better days ahead”
“The ghost of populism is always present, sometimes we easily forget what happened in our country 10 years ago. Today there is a powerful center -right party that ruling, as the rest of the opposition is fragmented, so we do not have a balanced political system, a fact that leaves space for populism, “the prime minister said during his debate with Robert D. Kaplan, noting that his danger is:
“I am sure that as we fulfill our commitments, as we increase salaries and jobs we will have even better days ahead of us because we are in a strong financial position, which the average citizen now perceives. As we do all of the above and remain humble we have a great opportunity to win the 2027 elections. “
The prime minister also noted that “political stability is very important today” and stressed that “in Greece the government is enjoying a strong parliamentary majority, estimated by international investors.”
“We must always have a reliable deterrent to Turkey”
“We are doomed by geography to live with Turkey and we must be able to live peacefully, but also to be able to resolve the only difference we have, namely the delineation of EEZ and continental shelf. This difference has not been resolved for 50 years, I am not optimistic that it will be resolved in the near future, but that does not mean that we should not talk to Turkey and work together in areas that promote the relations between the two peoples. I put you as an example the issue of visa visa for Turkish citizens for their 7 -day stay in 12 islands in the eastern Aegean, which has delivered positive results not only economically. But at the same time I am not naive, I know that we must always have a reliable deterrent to Turkey, which is why we are constantly strengthening our armed forces while promoting EU strategic autonomy, “said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his discussion.
“I have met Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan many times, it is important to have open communication channels – in terms of Greek -Turkish relations I am identifying myself as an optimistic realist,” he added and pointed out:
“However, our foreign policy is not exhausted in relations with Turkey. Greece is developing strategic relationships with Israel, Egypt and Gulf countries, we are investigating with the help of American giants, such as Exxon and Chevron the possibility of natural gas deposits south of Crete, and we want to be honest interlocutors with all players in the Eastern. It is in our interest to work for a safe and prosperous Eastern Mediterranean. “
Asked what his relationship with US President Donald Trump is, Kyriakos Mitsotakis characteristically said that “we have a strategic relationship with the US, I have worked with President Trump and during his first term and I think we can maintain the good relationship we have” and continue:
“It is my obligation to work with him, it is positive that we know and I want to work on a relationship that has a strategic depth. We have common interests with the US, Greece’s importance to the geopolitical and economic dimension is great for the US and this is recognized by both parties in the US, which was also given in my own speech in Congress in the spring of 2022. “