Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has streed the urgency for European energy independence and a unified defense strategy in his weekly social media address on Sunday, reflecting growing calls among European leaders for stronger internal resilience and cooperation.
“Europe must carve bold paths to make the European economy more competitive, while also strengthening social cohesion,” Mr. Mitsotakis said. “It is time for us, as Europeans, to finally organize our energy independence and set in motion our common defense.”
Mr. Mitsotakis’s comments come after discussions on these issues at the recent European Union Council meeting in Budapest.
In his address, Mr. Mitsotakis also extended congratulations to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, expressing confidence in the continuity and strength of Greek-American relations.
“The orientation of Greek-American relations is national, not partisan,” he noted, “and given the strong presence of the Greek community in the United States, I am confident that relations between our two countries will remain stable and productive under the new Trump presidency.”
Mr. Mitsotakis's remarks align with statements by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the week, both of whom have called for increased European unity in defense and security matters.
Mr. Scholz and Mr. Macron have stressed that, amid shifting global alliances and growing challenges, Europe must build greater strategic autonomy to protect its interests.
The calls for a collective European approach come as the continent navigates a challenging energy landscape, intensified by regional dependencies and the need for sustainable alternatives. Mitsotakis’s stance highlights Greece’s commitment to a Europe that is not only economically competitive but also secure and self-sufficient in critical sectors.