“Foreign policy’s major challenges and how Greece should address them”
Foreign policy is a crucial aspect of a country's political field. In the four years that I have had the honour and privilege of leading Greek diplomacy, my goal has been - and I believe it has been achieved to a large extent - to significantly broaden the horizon of our interest and cooperation, to give Greek foreign policy a different pace, and to seek and secure a new, significantly enhanced role for our country in international developments.
Our targeting has always been interwoven with full adherence to International Law and the International Law of the Sea, respect for the independence and territorial integrity of States, faith in the peaceful resolution of disputes, the value of dialogue, Democracy, the Rule of Law, human rights, and the protection of the environment.
And it is precisely our commitment to these principles that led us to submit Greece's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, for the Human Rights Council for the 2028-2030 term and for the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly in 2035.
From these positions, we aim to strengthen in every way, the United Nations' efforts to foster peace, stability, and cooperation.
Fully aware of the challenges in our wider region and the need for harmonious coexistence and constructive cooperation, we have moved in two directions: (a) broadening the horizon of Greek foreign policy, (b) deepening our country's alliances and strategic cooperation relations.
With consistency and continuity in the exercise of our foreign policy, we have methodically and systematically developed a multifaceted network of relations, reflecting the success of our strategic goal for an unprecedentedly broad - by Greek foreign policy standards - horizon, combined with the upgrading of cooperation relationships.
Our presence in Europe (within the EU and on a bilateral level), our strategic cooperation relationship with the USA, our country's active presence in international and regional organisations, the enhancement of our cooperation with the Western Balkans, the creation of communication and cooperation channels with the Middle East, the Gulf, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as with Asian, Latin American and Caribbean countries, and with Australia, constitute the fields of this multifaceted network of relations.
In this regard, the strategic cooperation Agreements with the United States, France, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the Agreements on the delimitation of EEZs with Italy and Egypt, provide tangible evidence of the deepening and upgrading of our alliances and partnerships around the world.
I would like to make special mention of the extension of the territorial waters of Greece, in the Ionian Sea from 6 to 12 nautical miles. The extension of the area of our national sovereignty, for the first time since 1947, is another proof of how exercising our rights within the framework of International Law and the International Law of the Sea strengthens and upgrades Greece's international presence.
In this article which concerns the “next day” of Greece’s foreign policy, there are two points, I believe, that should not be overlooked.
The first is related to our relations with Türkiye. It is my firm belief that the resolution of our sole dispute with Türkiye, the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ, requires from both sides full respect for International Law and the International Law of the Sea, awareness and consciousness of the issue, and a sincere willingness to resolve it. In this sense, I believe that in the future a renewed attempt should be made to resolve the dispute in ways different than those that have been used so far, without, unfortunately, having any outcome. It makes no sense to perpetuate a formal procedure, which served specific objectives when it was established following Helsinki, just to claim that efforts are being made.
The second point concerns the strengthening of our cooperation with the Western Balkans. Greece seeks to maintain good neighbourly relations and the prevalence of development, stability and security conditions. We intend to contribute substantially to the realisation of the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
I believe that in a period of radical upheavals in an increasingly complex international and regional environment, foreign policy is (ought to be) a dynamic process for effectively addressing challenges and exploiting opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. And this has been precisely the effort we have been engaged in over these four years. Beyond rigidities and stereotypes, the foreign policy, which we planed and implemented, has been directed towards an ever-changing world.
I hope that the principles of the specific foreign policy that I have described will continue to be upheld, regardless of the persons and political developments following these and the next elections, in which I anticipate New Democracy to emerge as the country’s new government. And I also hope that a climate of unity and national unanimity will continue to prevail in foreign policy.
May 20, 2023