“I believe there are many lessons to be learned from the era of Eleftherios Venizelos. The direction was always the right one, and Greece was on the right side of history. It fared well in the face of threats. We believe that our place in the world is largely determined by the strength of our economy and our ability to carry out domestic reforms. That is what Venizelos did as well. It is important to read the international environment and align ourselves with the right alliances. In an era of geopolitical turmoil, strength matters. Greece is a country that is a member of the EU and NATO, but at the same time stands at the crossroads of three continents.
We must be strong within Europe. We are no longer the problem child of the Eurozone as we were 10 years ago. We have restored our credibility. At the same time, we serve as a bridge between what is happening in Europe, in the West, and in a dynamic part of the world. We have developed ties with the Gulf countries. A strategic alliance with India. Greece has the ability to look toward the West and belong to the EU, while maintaining a historical legacy. “At a time when power is shifting toward the East, we can be more proactive in our diplomatic efforts,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a discussion with CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour as part of the event co-organized by The Economist and iefimerida.gr titled “Shaping the Future.”
In a subsequent statement, when asked about Greek-American relations, the Prime Minister noted, among other things: “As Greece, we must be clear that we are a committed member of the EU. We have an alliance with the U.S. that we intend to honor, as we have done for many years. Our relationship is recognized because Greece is a pole of stability in the region. Opportunities are emerging for Greece, taking into account the changes in foreign policy. U.S. dominance in energy is clear. The energy mix includes natural gas. Greece has a program, and we hope to find natural gas in Greek waters; we are collaborating with U.S. companies. Due to its geographical location, the U.S. can export LNG through Greece to Europe, and we can supply all our northern neighbors thanks to our infrastructure. I should mention the importance of shipping. It is of geopolitical significance for the country. The second factor concerning the U.S. and Greece is the new approach to increasing defense spending, ensuring that Europe can defend itself and be an active member of NATO. Defense spending is now on the rise. We need to find ways to align with the US, and one of them is the 3+1 alliance.”
In a subsequent statement on the future impact of current developments, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that much will depend on the outcome. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he noted that this unstable situation has become the new normal, and this will have consequences. “I believe we will reach a turning point that will lead to price stabilization. The first issue concerning my government—which is oil prices—is whether they will be affordable. Economic problems remain even though we have raised wages and reduced unemployment. The challenge is to create a new framework because, in the final analysis, one of the legacies of World War II was a world of free navigation and free trade. As a medium-sized country, we have sent ships as part of the “ASPIDES” mission. Unfortunately, time is passing and our capacity is diminishing,” he noted.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Mr. Mitsotakis said it was a war of Europe. “Greece supports international law and believes that borders are not changed by force. I am clear on this. We are in a position where Russia has more incentive to reach an agreement. We have a line of conflict where nothing is progressing. We must study this very carefully. The key to bringing Russia to the negotiating table is for Putin to understand that he will not achieve his objectives militarily. A fundamental prerequisite for a peace agreement is finding common ground. I hope we will return to this with concrete guarantees that Russia will not target Ukraine again. I believe we are closer to Russia realizing that this war makes no sense. I cannot get inside Putin’s head. Any rational person understands that Putin has more to lose than to gain if he continues the war,” he noted.
Regarding Europe-China relations, Mr. Mitsotakis stated, among other things: “Are we talking about trade relations from the perspective of the producer or the consumer? Do you want a cheap car? No one can compete with the Chinese. China has subsidized overcapacity. This poses a risk. There are tools available. It is a large market. Our trade deficit tells only half the story. The other half is that our industry is not competitive. We need a more robust European industrial policy.”
When asked if Europe can become a geopolitical player, the prime minister said we must implement the Draghi report. “If anything needs to happen in the coming years, I think it is that we move in this direction, because otherwise we won’t see good results,” he added.
“In Greece, we must ensure that the foundations we have built in recent years remain solid so that we can achieve macroeconomic stability. It is non-negotiable for me that we implement our policies. Greece is moving toward stability. This allows us to lower taxes and support the incomes of vulnerable individuals and families. The issue in the upcoming elections is whether we will continue these policies,” he replied to a question about Greece’s future.
SOURCE: APE