Watch live the conversation between prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Antonio Costa at the Delphi Economic Forum.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ live discussion with Antonio Costa at the Delphi Forum – “We are experiencing a crisis of significant magnitude”
Watch live the debate between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Antonio Costa at the Delphi Economic Forum.<nbsp;
"The block in the Straits of …
“The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and the attacks on the urban fabric, especially where energy facilities are located, is a big risk for the international economy,” Anthony Costa said when asked about the situation in the Middle East.
The European Council president even stressed that “Iran should never, ever have a nuclear weapon,” stressing that it needs free navigation.
He stressed that it is also a priority to stop the war in Lebanon and the President’s desire to disarm Hezbollah.
The President of the European Council, Anthony Costa, in addition, spoke of tools to be given to European Union member states to control the crisis. He also referred again to energy independence, saying that it is superfluous for all member states to be able to produce their own independence. “Whether it is Russian oil or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it is essential,” he argued.
The prime minister described the situation as extremely critical, noting that the international community is facing a potential crisis of major proportions, which could directly affect supply, energy prices, agricultural production and the overall course of the economy. He said, “We are probably facing a crisis of major proportions. It is only a matter of time if the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues that we will have significant disruptions in oil and product supply, significant increases in energy prices, shortages in fertilizer, increased inflation and reduced growth.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that Greece is showing a better picture than other European economies, but made clear that no country can be considered shielded against a shock of such magnitude. “Greece is doing better than other European countries, but we will not remain unaffected by a crisis of this magnitude,” he said, directly linking geopolitical developments to the risk of new pressures on the daily lives of citizens and on overall European economic stability.
In the same context, the prime minister stressed the need for an immediate diplomatic solution and aligned himself with Antonio Costa’s position on the need for de-escalation. “I agree with Mr. Costa, the first priority is a permanent ceasefire that will return us to the situation before the war. An open shipping route cannot be subject to fees, so we must support a diplomatic solution,” he said.
At the same time, however, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that Europe cannot limit itself to wishes or an expectation of rapid normalization, but must organize its response for the worst-case scenario. “But we must prepare for the worst-case scenario, we saw it in Ukraine. This crisis is an opportunity to redefine our position in terms of our strategic autonomy and our energy security.”
The Prime Minister also opened the issue of energy realism, noting that Europe cannot speak only in terms of green transition without simultaneously answering the questions of adequacy and security of supply.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message in favour of a European emergency plan, warning that a prolonged crisis cannot be dealt with at the national level alone. “I urge everyone to be pragmatic and have a plan b in case the crisis extends, as no state will be able to support the economy without European support,” he said.
In the same context, he referred to the issue of nuclear energy, stressing that Europe had wasted precious time locked in ideological objections.
“We have to be ambitious on nuclear energy,” he said, adding: “We’ve spent years debating, we don’t like nuclear power because it’s ‘bad’. Look at Germany now, they shut down the plants and burn coal. And it will do it until 2036, it’s wrong from an environmental and economic point of view.”
“We need to develop autonomy. It will take time if we have to become a nuclear country, but when I wear my European hat I say that we have to put aside ideological discussions, we have to be pragmatic and recognise that nuclear energy will be part of the solution and develop our own technology rather than importing it from the US or Korea,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
Referring to Cyprus’ defence build-up immediately after the targeting of British bases on the island, the prime minister said that “our first priority was to ensure that we protect the territorial integrity of Cyprus. For the first time, we experimented with the activation of Article 42 para. 7“.
Then Mitsotakis referred to the navigation issue, saying that it is a priority for Greece and in the UN Security Council. “Ensuring that we have a role to play as we are a global superpower in navigation. If there could ever be a need for a multinational force to ensure a ceasefire, we would be happy to participate. We did it in the Red Sea, led Operation ASPIDES for the Houthi attacks. If you ask me if I am happy with the involvement of European countries, no, we can do more. If we want to take our strategic autonomy seriously, member states commit resources. It is different to have 10 member states sending ships, to have 3. If we want to have a seat at the table, we have to be present and show that we have value to add.”
The Prime Minister also referred to the broader geopolitical challenges of the region, noting that Greece seeks to have a substantial presence not only in the security field but also in the humanitarian field. As he said, “We have just sent another aircraft with humanitarian aid. In Gaza and in reconstruction, it is the position of Greece and the EU.”
Kyriakos Mitsotakis also emphasized Syria and in particular the need to protect Christian populations, noting: “The protection of Christians in Syria, where many are persecuted. There are areas where we want to be active and more effective. We are doing it in cooperation with the EU and with the US.”
In the field of Euro-Atlantic relations, the Prime Minister stressed that he remains a firm advocate of cooperation between Europe and the United States, considering that the current international environment leaves no room for disconnection between the two sides. “I remain a supporter of Euro-Atlantic cooperation. If you look at the challenges from the east, we have to find a way to work more effectively together,” he said.
At the same time, however, he warned that Europe cannot claim a serious geopolitical role only through declarations and institutional formulations. “If we believe that we will become a serious geopolitical player with nice statements from Brussels, this will not get us very far,” he said, setting a sharper tone in the debate on the Union’s foreign policy and strategic effectiveness.
In the same vein, he announced that Europe’s response to new international crises will increasingly be through flexible forms of cooperation and not always through the total mobilisation of all member states. “We will see more coalitions of the willing. Coming back to ASPIDES. Some contribute, some don’t. This happened in Ukraine,” he said, indicating that there are already examples where collective European action was based on the determination of some and not all.
Concluding this section, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed the need for ad hoc alliances where this is deemed necessary and functional. “We need to find ad hoc solutions with countries that are more willing or have a greater interest in contributing materially to initiatives,” he said, essentially presenting a model of European foreign and defence policy that would be based less on unanimity and more on the practical will of those who choose to move.
