Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud jointly chaired the 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Al Ula on Monday.
The two leaders also met privately to discuss the strategic nature of Greek-Saudi relations and the establishment of bilateral cooperation at highest level, as in the first landmark meeting of the bilateral High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
At the Council meeting and throughout its duration, the Greek PM underlined it is the first time Greece establishes a High Level Strategic Cooperation Council with a country of the Middle East, while he also noted the great significance of Greece's cooperation with Saudi Arabia. "This shows the great value for us the cooperation with Saudi Arabia has at these critical times for the world and the wider region. Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner of Europe and the European Union and a key player in the stability and prosperity of the entire region. The global scene is being reshaped and, in this context, the role of the Arab world and Saudi Arabia is critical. The security of Europe and the Middle East is interdependent. In this landscape, our strategic cooperation acquires even greater importance," Mitsotakis said during the start of the meeting.
The Council, he underlined, sends a very clear message that Greece and Saudi Arabia are boosting their bilateral cooperation to the highest possible level in a wide range of sectors such as defense, investments, trade, energy, tourism, culture, and sports.
Mitsotakis reiterated the importance of the cooperation, saying, "There is danger of the region becoming further destabilized, as the war in Gaza has been added to a series of crises, the repercussions of which we are being called to face, like the war in Ukraine. In this context, it is even more important that Greece and Saudi Arabia have the same vision for security and peace in the region."
The Greek premier laid particular emphasis on the prospects opening for cooperation in energy, as well as in trade and investments in sectors such as shipping, agrinutrient products and the construction sector.
Mitsotakis and bin Salman then signed the minutes of the meeting that include 46 initiatives agreed jointly upon by the committees of the Greece-Saudi Arabia High Level Strategic Cooperation Council, and approved the Council's governance structure. In particular, the Council consists of 7 committees, each of which is headed by relevant ministers of both countries: political, military, investments, energy, tourism, culture, and sports.
Mitsotakis-bin Salman meeting
During their private meeting, Mitsotakis emphasized Greece's initiatives in renewable energy sources and energy and digital connectivity, in order for Greece to become a hub in Southeastern Europe.
The prime minister emphasized that Greece could become both Asia's and the Middle East's gateway to Europe, and underlined that Saudi Arabia's key role in the India–Middle East–Europe (IMEC) Economic Corridor and Greece's location provided even more opportunities for cooperation.
Mitsotakis and bin Salman then discussed global and regional develpments, while the prime minister noted Saudi Arabia's significant role in the region as a factor of stability.
They also exchanged views on the latest developments in Gaza and Syria, and Mitsotakis reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the freeing of hostages, and the restart of the political process that will lead to a two-state solution. In terms of Syria, Mitsoakis reiterated Greece's dedicated stance on Syria's territorial integrity, adding that the day after must come from an inclusive process that respects the rights of all religious and ethnic communities.
The two leaders also discussed the situation at the Red Sea, with Mitsotakis underlining the importance for Greece of maritime safety and freedom of navigation.