Greece joins forces with 34 other countries to find a solution to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Our country participated in the teleconference called by Britain aimed at examining all parameters that would restore free navigation in the region. In this context, it co-signed the Joint Declaration “of the 35” expressing their readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to guarantee safe passage through the Straits, while committing to take additional measures to stabilize energy markets, including cooperation with certain countries to increase production.
Read: Middle East: Gulf countries call on UN Security Council to approve use of force to open Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz: Greece’s role upgraded – What diplomatic sources tell parapolitika.gr
However, there was a clear decision that any action to open the Straits would be carried out after the end of hostilities, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who leads the initiative, had stated a day earlier. Among the countries participating in the United Kingdom’s initiative are most EU countries, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Canada, Bahrain, Panama, Nigeria, Chile, Somalia, and others.
Greece, as diplomatic sources tell parapolitika.gr, aims to be present in developments, to take a role and have a say in what will be shaped the day after the war. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, during his intervention, according to the same sources, expressed Athens’ concern about the ongoing conflict, reiterated the need to return to diplomacy to end the conflict, while highlighting Greece’s leading role as a maritime nation. At the same time, he informed his counterparts about the significant and tangible impacts that the closure of the Straits has on Greece.
Professor Emeritus of European Studies, Panagiotis Ioakimidis, speaking to parapolitika.gr when asked to comment on our country’s participation in consultations for restoring free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighted the country’s upgraded role and argued that “if any additional action is decided within the framework of the European Union – beyond ‘the 35’ or parallel to ‘the 35’ – if, that is, the European Union decides on some operation and certainly after the end of the war, then obviously Greece should participate. Having both the capability and the navy, it can participate and play a significant role. A quite significant role,” he emphasizes characteristically.
It should be noted that 11 Greek ships with 88 sailors are currently trapped in the Persian Gulf. We remind that in the context of finding a solution for the rescue of Greek ships and sailors, the Foreign Minister had telephone communication with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, from whom he requested the opening of the Straits and emphasized that Greece stands for diplomacy to find a sustainable solution and for full respect of International Law and ensuring freedom of navigation.
The impacts of war on freedom of navigation were discussed yesterday by Mr. Gerapetritis with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who visited our country. The two ministers agreed that the safety of sailors and ships, as well as unimpeded passage, are non-negotiable goods.
