Mitsotakis Hails France Deal as Greece Becomes 'Strong Axis in the Mediterranean'

Greece has emerged stronger and more secure following the signing of an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Relationship with France during President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Athens, according to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

He billed the agreement as a “broad-based alliance” spanning defense, the economy, technology, migration, civil protection,

"At a critical geopolitical moment, we confirmed the strategic choice we made in 2021 to strengthen the Greece-France relationship, turning it into a strong, multilayered alliance," Mr. Mitsotakis wrote in his weekly social media message over the weekend.

The prime minister said the deal made Greece "more secure," reinforced its geopolitical standing and opened new avenues of cooperation ranging from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity.

The agreement includes a formal renewal of the 2021 bilateral defense and security partnership, which Mr. Mitsotakis said strengthens Greece's deterrent capacity.

"Greece and France are EU and NATO member states, but we are also becoming a strong axis in the Mediterranean," he said, citing joint defense support for Cyprus as a concrete expression of European solidarity.

Mr. Mitsotakis placed the Franco-Greek pact within a broader argument for European strategic autonomy, referencing discussions at the informal European Council summit in Cyprus.

He called for a Europe "capable of standing with confidence in an uncertain world and defending the interests of its citizens and its values" — language that echoes the framing he and Mr. Macron used during their joint appearance at the ancient Roman Agora in Athens earlier in the week.

The visit by Mr. Macron was the most high-profile by a European leader to Athens in years, combining a state dinner, a naval ceremony aboard the new frigate Kimon and a keynote address amid ancient ruins.

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Greece has emerged stronger and more secure following the signing of an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Relationship with France during President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Athens, according to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

He billed the agreement as a “broad-based alliance” spanning defense, the economy, technology, migration, civil protection, the environment, education and culture.

"At a critical geopolitical moment, we confirmed the strategic choice we made in 2021 to strengthen the Greece-France relationship, turning it into a strong, multilayered alliance," Mr. Mitsotakis wrote in his weekly social media message over the weekend.

The prime minister said the deal made Greece "more secure," reinforced its geopolitical standing and opened new avenues of cooperation ranging from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity.

The agreement includes a formal renewal of the 2021 bilateral defense and security partnership, which Mr. Mitsotakis said strengthens Greece's deterrent capacity.

"Greece and France are EU and NATO member states, but we are also becoming a strong axis in the Mediterranean," he said, citing joint defense support for Cyprus as a concrete expression of European solidarity.

Mr. Mitsotakis placed the Franco-Greek pact within a broader argument for European strategic autonomy, referencing discussions at the informal European Council summit in Cyprus.

He called for a Europe "capable of standing with confidence in an uncertain world and defending the interests of its citizens and its values" — language that echoes the framing he and Mr. Macron used during their joint appearance at the ancient Roman Agora in Athens earlier in the week.

The visit by Mr. Macron was the most high-profile by a European leader to Athens in years, combining a state dinner, a naval ceremony aboard the new frigate Kimon and a keynote address amid ancient ruins.

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