‘Greece and Cyprus are the two countries closest to what is happening in the Middle East, and for this reason they have a strong interest in ensuring that this situation is resolved peacefully as soon as possible.’ This was emphasized, among other points, by the Greek Prime Minister while welcoming Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, in the Greek capital, on Monday.
During the meeting, regional developments were discussed, with emphasis on Iran, Lebanon, and the broader Middle East region. The Greek Prime Minister stressed that Europe must be present in the region following a peace agreement, adding that it should support the government and the armed forces of Lebanon.
Mitsotakis underlined the particular importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and stressed that Greece considers it imperative that no precedent be set, not only in the region but also on a global level. ‘We are a country that maintains, I would say, constructive relations with all countries in the region, something which, in my view, makes us reliable ‘bridge-builders.’ Of course, however, in order to reach the point where we begin building bridges, we must first get past the point where we are blowing them up,’ he noted.
For his part, Wadephul stressed that, regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, it is absolutely necessary for the EU to play a role, as this serves its interests, while also underlining the importance of ending Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. ‘I would therefore say, in view of the Greek Presidency of the European Union next year, that we must intensify our efforts so that the European Union is able to address all the threats and challenges we face. And this must be done among friends and key partners, such as Greece and Germany’ he noted.