Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a brief meeting with regional leaders, including Cyprus President Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, Turkish President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Albanian Prime Minister Mr. Edi Rama, on Thursday during the European Political Community Summit in Budapest.
The leaders met informally just before the summit began, with discussions reportedly touching on recent global developments, including Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election.
Arriving at the summit, Mr. Mitsotakis remarked on the turbulent geopolitical environment, stating, "This European Political Community and European Council meeting in Budapest takes place during a time of significant geopolitical upheaval."
He took the opportunity to congratulate President Mr. Donald Trump on his “decisive victory” and expressed optimism for the future of transatlantic relations. Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of a strong partnership with the U.S., while cautioning that Europe must not approach this alliance from a position of weakness.
“Europe may not be able to change the world,” Mr. Mitsotakis noted, “but it can certainly transform itself to face an ever-changing world.” He stressed the relevance of upcoming discussions at the European Council on topics such as European competitiveness in light of these global shifts.
Later, speaking at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mitsotakis reaffirmed the deep-rooted nature of Greek-American relations, which he expects to strengthen under the new U.S. administration. He described Greece-U.S. ties as historically “impeccable” and noted their strategic importance in addressing both regional and global challenges.
This brief encounter with other regional leaders and Mr. Mitsotakis' statements at the summit reflect Greece’s continued focus on maintaining strong international alliances as Europe navigates a complex global landscape.