Greece is a strong member state of the European Union and of NATO, and it is a country that has strategic relations with the United States it wants to deepen, and a country that can now jointly formulate European policies, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during his conversation with journalist and author Robert D. Kaplan at the 10th Delphi Economic Forum on Thursday.
In terms of the tariffs by the new American government on European products, the Greek prime minister said that it is in Greece's interest to support free trade, and expressed satisfaction that US President Donald Trump decided on a 90-day freeze of tariffs. A trade wawr between the European Union and the US would only have losers, he said, adding that the 90-day freeze should be utilized for an honest discussion. He added also that there is no logic to adding tariffs to products that do not affect the US production base such as olive oil, olives, and feta.
Mitsotakis also spoke of the political situation in Greece, where a strong center-right party is ruling while the rest of the opposition is fragmented. This means there is no balanced political system, leaving space for populism, which is a constant danger.
He then expressed the certainty that as his government fulfils its campaign promises and wages and job openings increase in Greece, the future will be brighter because the country is in a strong fiscal state that the average citizen realizes, and this will lead to victory in the 2027 elections.
The government today enjoys a strong parliamentary majority, which is appreciated by foreign investors, the PM added.
Greek-Turkish relations
Speaking about Türkiye, Mitsotakis said that Greece is condemned by geography to live with its neighbor and the only difference between the two countries is the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and that of the continental shelf.
The PM said that as the differences on the continental shelf had not been resolved in 50 years, he was not optimistic it would be resolved in the near future, but that did not mean that the two countries could not talk and cooperate in sectors that promote the relations of both countries. One of the examples he mentioned was the 7-day visa for Turkish nationals to take holidays on 12 Eastern Aegean islands, which has been successful and not just from an economic point of view. At the same time, he said, Greece needs to have a reliable deterrent capability against Türkiye, and that is why the Greek Armed Forces are being strengthened while Greece also promotes the strategic autonomy of the European Union.
Mitsotakis said he had met several times with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as it was important to keep communication channels open.
Relations with Trump
However, the premier said, Greece's foreign policy did not end at relations with Türkiye, but Greece is developing relations of a strategic nature with Israel, Egypt, and the Gulf countries, it explores the possibility of natural gas deposits off southern Crete with American giants like Exxon and Chevron, and wants to talk sincerely with all players in the East Mediterranean. It is in Greece's interest to work toward a safe and prosperous East Mediterranean, he underlined.
Asked what his relationship with American President Donald Trump was, Mitsotakis said that Greece and the US have a strategic relation, he has collaborated with President Trump during his first term, and he believes that the cordial relationship they have can continue. The PM said it was his duty to work with Trump, it was positive they knew each other, and he was interested in working on a relationship that has strategic depth. Greece has common interests with the US, the importance of Greece in terms of geopolitical and economic terms is great for the US, and this is recognized by both US parties, something that was evident as well during Mitsotakis's address at Congress in the spring of 2022, he added.