It is a great honor to welcome to Athens today, Prince Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia. A figure regarded with great honor and respect, not only in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, but also in international diplomacy in general.
And I would personally like to thank him, as well as Saudi Arabia, for the considerable efforts expended to mitigate the consequences of the war that is currently raging in the wider region and to find the path to peace and prosperity once again.
I hope that these efforts succeed as soon as possible.
Your Highness, dear Minister, I welcome you to Athens with these words.
Your visit takes place at a time of particularly heightened geopolitical challenges, both for the wider Middle East and for global security worldwide. We had an extensive exchange of views on the situation in the wider Middle East. We express our solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. Greece has demonstrated in practice its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, at both the bilateral and multilateral levels, within the framework of the European Union and the United Nations.
I wish to underline that respect for International Law must be universal, while the protection of critical civilian infrastructure against every form of threat is a key priority for everyone.
I would also like, again, to commend the remarkable role played by Saudi Arabia in the evolving situation related to the peace process. I should also refer to the operations organized, few months ago, for the repatriation from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, of Greek citizens stranded in the region.
We warmly thank you, honorable Minister, for your assistance to ensure the safe return of our compatriots from Saudi Arabia and the region under extremely difficult conditions.
I also stressed to the honorable Minister the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation. Maritime security not only concerns global trade, but is also directly linked to the peace and prosperity of all peoples, to food security, to the safety of seafarers. Recognizing these pressing needs, Greece has timely highlighted the importance of maritime security, already in May 2025, during its Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, while it has already assumed a leading role in the “EUNAVFOR ASPIDES” operation, which is currently underway in the Red Sea to ensure freedom of navigation in the region.
Greece, as a global maritime power, and Saudi Arabia, with its strong economic presence and its pivotal role in the geography of the region, fully understand the dimensions that the crisis may assume in the fields of energy, global supply chains and trade as a whole.
We also discussed the situation developing in Gaza and the West Bank. Gaza and the West Bank constitute a single and indivisible territorial entity for the establishment of a Palestinian state, through a political process leading to the two-state solution, enabling Palestinians and Israelis to coexist in peace and security. The humanitarian situation on the ground continues to give rise to deep concern.
Gaza must remain at the center of diplomatic efforts, with top priority accorded to the enhanced and unhindered provision of humanitarian aid in the area, as well as to the full implementation of the Peace Plan and the implementation of its second phase. Greece stands ready to contribute actively to the day after in Gaza, both in the humanitarian field and in the stabilization and reconstruction of the region.
Turning to Lebanon, we welcome the direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, which may contribute to long-term peace and stability in the region. Lebanon is an extremely important country for the balance in the wider region, the Eastern Mediterranean country which decisively influences peace in the broader region.
As regards Syria, we noted with the honourable Minister that we look forward to a peaceful and prosperous Syria, where all Syrians, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity, will feel safe. In this context, we emphasize the need for an inclusive political transition which will ensure the representation of everyone without any exclusion.
Clearly, a substantial part of our discussions focused on our bilateral relations.
Saudi Arabia is the first country in the Middle East with which Greece established a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and this demonstrates the importance Greece attaches to the role of Saudi Arabia as a consequential force for stability and prosperity throughout the region, as well as for the security, which is directly linked to Europe as a whole. Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner of Greece and the European Union. We cooperate effectively and beneficially within the framework of regional and international organizations.
Naturally, the milestone of our bilateral cooperation, honourable Minister, was the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held in al-Ula in January 2025. We are looking forward to hold the 2nd High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council over the next period and to welcome the Saudi delegation here in Athens.
To this end, we proceeded to a comprehensive overview of our bilateral relations and, of course, of all the agreements that are going to be reached in the near future, certainly in light of recent developments in the wider region, but also at the international level.
We agreed to build on this momentum, by further expanding our cooperation, in areas such as investment, energy, trade, connectivity, which is extremely critical and on which we both attach particular importance.
Today’s signing of the Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports serves to remove any obstacles and bureaucratic hurdles to the movement of people, which will further contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.
In the area of connectivity, we attach particular importance to all routes, including the economic corridor between India, the Middle East and Europe, the IMEC, where both countries, Saudi Arabia and Greece, are placing particular emphasis.
For Greece, IMEC is an important, ambitious project of major significance that will render the Eastern Mediterranean into a hub of stability and substantial connectivity. It is a security infrastructure, a cultural corridor, that will leave its mark on relations between the wider Middle East region and Europe.
We recognize the importance of developing strong alliances in this field, and Saudi Arabia is one of the key countries for this regional cooperation.
We also discussed Saudi Arabia’s preparations for Expo 2030 in Riyadh, and the Greek presence at the event, including the presence of Greek companies.
Before I conclude, let me refer to the people-to-people ties between Greece and Saudi Arabia and, in particular, let me welcome the appointment of a Greek coach, Giorgos Donis, as the coach of the Saudi Arabian National Football Team in view of the World Cup. These ties will create an even greater level of familiarity and understanding between our peoples.
Your Highness, it was a great honour to welcome you in Athens today and we look forward to promptly upgrading our relations and to meeting again soon, here in Athens, within the framework of our High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Thank you.
May 14, 2026