Mitsotakis – Blinken Agree on Further Defense Cooperation

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to further defense cooperation between the two nations on Saturday.

The two officials met at the home of the Greek PM in Chania, Crete to discussed Greek-American relations and exchanged views on international and regional issues, focusing on developments in the Middle East.

After they had a private meeting, an extended working meeting followed.

During the meeting, Mitsotakis and Blinken confirmed that in the context of the excellent level of defense cooperation the two countries have reached, there will be further positive steps in the coming period.

Mitsotakis expressed his growing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the risks of the crisis expanding, with all that this implies for regional stability and security in the Middle East.

The Greek Prime Minister reiterated the need for an unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and underlined that the solution can only be political, based on the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions.

The two men also exchanged views on developments in Ukraine. The US Secretary of State expressed his thanks for the support Greece provided to Ukraine from the very beginning.

They also discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Greek PM reiterated Greece’s firm and enduring position in favor of the peaceful resolution of disputes and good neighborly relations based on International Law, principles that ensure regional stability and security.

The private meeting between Mitsotakis and Blinken was followed by a working meeting.

In the working meeting, the Greek side was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Papadopoulou, the director of the Diplomatic Office of the Prime Minister, Ambassador Anna Maria Boura, and the special advisor for International Policy and Public Diplomacy of the Prime Minister Aristotelia Pelonis.

Prior Meeting in Turkey

Prior to the meeting with the Greek PM, the US State Secretary Antony Blinken was in  Istanbul (Constantinople), meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan,

During his meeting with his US counterpart, the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that Turkey expects the completion of the F-16 purchase process from the United States and that the final decision on Sweden’s NATO accession process rests with the Turkish National Assembly, as Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

Fidan also pointed out that Israel’s increasing aggression poses a threat to the entire region. He stressed that an immediate ceasefire should be declared to allow unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza and called for the immediate start of negotiations for a two-state solution.

The Turkish FM also reportedly stressed that Turkey does not want tensions to arise in the Black Sea region and that the government is trying to ensure the safe transport of food supplies produced in Russia and Ukraine to world markets.

Lastly, the two diplomats discussed Azerbaijan-Armenia relations and other regional issues, such as the situation in Syria and Iraq.