“The aim is to strengthen, as the EU, our level of readiness and the potential of the defense industry”
“OR France He is one of the closest partners in Greece. In the fields of defense and security we have established a very important strategic partnership, which is constantly deepening. ” Kyriakos Mitsotakis who met at noon With French Armed Forces Minister Sebastian Lekorni, at the Maximus Mansion.
Mr Mitsotakis praised the level of cooperation between the two countries and stressed that Greece and France believe that the Rearm Plan is offering a solid basis to achieve the strategic autonomy of the European Union.
“It is a goal for which we have worked together, from the beginning, with President Macron. The aim is to strengthen, as a union, our level of preparedness and the potential of our defense industry, to reduce our dependencies and not to maintain them, “said Mr Mitsotakis, who described the French minister’s visit as” great because of the defensive cooperation “today:
“In particular, we need to reduce our dependence on countries that act in a way that is contrary to the strategic interests of the European Union. And we must protect the national security and defense interests of all Member States, without any exception. “
During the meeting, Greece-France’s defense cooperation and its prospects were further supported, as well as the latest developments related to European Defense and the European Defense Industry, following a presentation by the European Commission of the Rearm Europe program.
In this context, views on the strengthening of European collective defense and European strategic autonomy, as well as on regional and international developments, have exchanged views on the strengthening of European collective defense.
The prime minister noted that EU cooperation with third countries in the defense cannot be opposed to EU strategic interests and European decisions on foreign policy and defensestressing that the security interests of all EU member states should be taken into account in accordance with the decisions of the European Council.
For his part, French Defense Minister Sepastian Lecorni stressed, inter alia, that “by always taking into account the quality of cooperation, professional and personal you maintain with President Macron, you do not need ministers to make progress in both. It’s the least we can say ”and supplemented:
“In any case, we had a very good work meeting this morning with your own Minister of Defense, we apparently examined business issues, attitudes. Thank you for how Greece welcomed the attitudes of our ships in a country where our Navy makes more stops, including obviously the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and the escort team. “
The French Minister of Defense also noted that during his meeting with Nikos Dendia’s counterpart discussed the situation in Lebanon, the situation in the Balkans, and the Black Sea, as well as security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in addition, strengthening the defense and defense, around the Rearm plan. “And in order to keep a continuation of the shipping sector, because it is obviously an area in which Greece is a leader and a privileged partner,” concluded Mr Lekorni.