While the Parliament will conduct a heated foreign policy debate today, Thursday, the government expects a significant announcement from Brussels that will strengthen the position expressed by Maximos Mansion for bolstering the country’s presence in international forums. Specifically, the Commission will present the roadmap for the ambitious ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 project, which will fully satisfy Greek positions as expressed both publicly and in closed meetings by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In particular, it is expected to adopt the concept of 360-degree European security, which will cover the southeastern borders of Europe as well. This will advance the implementation of both the missile defense shield – a proposal jointly submitted by Mitsotakis and Poland’s Tusk – and the anti-drone system, not only for Eastern Europe, but also for the southern borders of the EU. Both programs will cover our country, something the Greek Prime Minister had requested at the last Summit, while Georgia Meloni had expressed a similar position.
Mitsotakis is expected to take the floor in Parliament today shortly after 11:00 AM in a discussion aimed at briefing the House on foreign policy issues, scheduled at his request. This followed a request from PASOK president Nikos Androulakis for a discussion on the Palestinian issue, which the Prime Minister decided to expand into a comprehensive foreign policy debate, allowing him to develop the entire logic of Greek handling of external affairs and giving other political leaders the opportunity to address all fronts, as his associates note.
What Mitsotakis will say in his parliamentary speech
In his speech, according to sources, Mitsotakis will explain Greece’s stance and the benefits that have emerged for the country from this position on all fronts: European, American, Greek-Turkish, Middle Eastern, leading to the third element of his speech which is highlighting the results that active diplomacy brings, in contrast to the diplomacy of inaction and event-watching.
The Prime Minister, based on the same sources, is expected to emphasize that the economic policy pursued by the government since 2019, which upgrades the country’s socio-political position, allows it to strengthen its defenses. Defense constitutes one side of the shield, while the other side is diplomacy.
He will also refer to the Palestinian issue, highlighting his presence at the Conference for Peace in Gaza, good relations with Israel, and the visit to Athens the day after the Conference by Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. These facts, as he will emphasize, allow Greece to claim a role in Gaza’s future, either in humanitarian aspects or in reconstruction.
Finally, on Greek-Turkish relations, he is expected to argue in favor of the calm waters policy, recalling its positive consequences while emphasizing that this does not mean the basic difference with Turkey (EEZ and continental shelf) remains, nor does it prevent our country from advancing its national planning, which is yielding results:
– Extension of territorial waters in the Ionian to 12 nautical miles
– Exclusive Economic Zone delimitation agreement with Italy and Egypt
– Maritime spatial planning
– Tenders for hydrocarbon exploration in underwater plots south of Crete, with participation by American giant Chevron
– Creation of two new Marine Parks, in the Ionian and southern Cyclades.
These developments, as he is expected to say, demonstrate that Greece exercises its sovereign rights on the ground, not at the level of slogans and shouting.
Mitsotakis-Zelensky phone call
It’s worth noting that yesterday Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing the latest developments in Ukraine ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting on October 23-24 in Brussels. Mitsotakis briefed the Ukrainian president on the Peace Summit held Monday in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
