The readiness of Greece for a mission to the Strait of Hormuz if required, was stated by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in remarks made from Brussels.
Regarding developments in the Middle East, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented following the Summit in Brussels, stating, among other things, that ensuring freedom of navigation is the key objective and the most significant achievement of the initial agreement that has been reached.
“I hope and pray that there will be no disruptions that could jeopardize this aspect of the agreement,” he said, noting that a significant de-escalation in oil prices is a priority for all members of the European Council.
The prime minister left open the possibility of Greek participation in a mission to ensure security in the region, provided that there is international legitimacy at the United Nations level. “Greece would be willing to participate in some kind of mission that would need to have international legitimacy at the United Nations security level,” he said, clarifying that such a mission is not currently on the table and that the goal is a return to the previous status quo.
Mr. Mitsotakis recalled that before the war began, passage through the Straits was completely free and that there was no discussion of either imposing tolls or a peacekeeping mission. “Greece has proven that it can be present on the ground when required,” he emphasized, adding that “should any additional contribution on our part be required, we will not hesitate to make it.”
Regarding the European budget, Mr. Mitsotakis noted that the differences among member states remain significant and that, although the goal is to conclude negotiations by the end of the year, the task is not an easy one. “It will be an extremely difficult negotiation. There are significant differences,” he said, adding that “the goal is to conclude the negotiations by the end of this year,” but “at the moment, the gaps are very wide.” For Greece, as he emphasized, safeguarding funds for cohesion and the CAP is a “non-negotiable priority,” while Athens appears satisfied with the provision for increased funding for migration.
When asked who can engage in talks with Vladimir Putin on behalf of Europe, the prime minister made it clear that the European Union does not claim the role of mediator. He stressed, however, that if a channel of communication is required, it should represent the European Council, as the decisions taken regarding the conflict concern all European leaders. As he said, “in this case, it must be highlighted by the President of the European Council.”
On the migration issue, the prime minister described the new return regulation as “yet another weapon” in the arsenal of Greece and Europe. As he said, Greece is particularly active in this area, and experience with returns to Egypt has shown that, once they began taking place, the number of Egyptians arriving illegally in Crete decreased significantly.
Referring to the prospect of establishing application processing centers outside the European Union, he noted that this is an issue that has been under discussion for some time and can now be considered as an option. For Greece, however, as he said, the immediate priority is to curb the flows from eastern Libya to Crete. The prime minister spoke of a significant reduction at the land and eastern borders, as well as substantive contacts with the political and military leadership of eastern Libya. “We have established a good channel of communication to ensure, as a first step, that the flows from the Tobruk region to Crete will be significantly curtailed in the coming months,” he said.
Regarding the accuracy and prices of fuel prices, Mr. Mitsotakis noted that a “notable decrease” in gasoline and diesel prices, explaining that, as a rule, it takes about a week from the time the price of the raw material drops until the reduction is passed on at the pump. He assured, however, that the regulatory mechanisms are “on high alert” to ensure that the reduction is passed on to consumers, whether for gasoline or diesel, which for this particular month also includes an additional subsidy of 0.15 euros.
The prime minister also linked the reduction in energy prices to the trend in inflation, noting that as global inflationary pressure on energy eases, so too will inflation. As he said, the increase in recent months is due exclusively to international developments.
In closing, Mr. Mitsotakis referred to discussions with Ukraine regarding the possibility of cooperation in the field of unmanned vehicles. “We are in advanced discussions with Ukraine regarding the possibility of an agreement that would allow our country to leverage the expertise that the Ukrainians have developed in unmanned vehicles, whether they are airborne, land-based, or underwater,” he said. The prime minister declined to provide further details but expressed optimism that the discussion “could come to fruition very quickly.”
