Live: Mitsotakis and Macron at Maximou – Signing agreements (photos & video)
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Emmanuel Macron arrived at the Maximou Mansion earlier in the day, after their joint presence on the frigate “Kimon” in Piraeus….
News Room
25 April 2026
At the Meximou Mansion, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Emanuel Macron, after their joint presence on the frigate “Kimon” in Piraeus.
The Greek Prime Minister and the French President proceed to the signing of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This agreement reflects the broadening and deepening of cooperation between the two countries, which is not limited to the defence sector but extends to the economy, civil protection, migration, technology, environment, education and culture.
The agreement includes the well-known mutual defence assistance clause, which is triggered in the event of a threat to the sovereignty of either state.
The signature has been undertaken on the Greek side by ministers Giorgos Gerapetritis and Nikos Dendias. On the French side, Benjamin Haddad, responsible for European affairs, and the Armed Forces Minister.
The deal is being renewed as it nears the end of its five-year term. It now provides for automatic renewal every five years unless either party chooses to terminate it.
Parallel, new partnerships are also being launched in the fields of education and innovation. In the field of research, the two sides are expected to enter into a memorandum of understanding on the development of small modular reactors (SMR), further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ one-on-one with Emmanuel Macron
At the beginning of their meeting, the Prime Minister and the French President had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Mr President, welcome back. First of all, I would like to thank you warmly, on behalf of all Greeks, for your statements yesterday and for your speech at the Presidential Palace. I believe that it really touched the hearts of all my compatriots and demonstrated the timeless bonds of friendship between our two countries, which sometimes go beyond the agreements we sign.
Your visit sent a very clear message that what you said yesterday, “Greece – France, Alliance”, is an axiom towards which we will all work and we will continue to strengthen our cooperation. Again, welcome.
Emanuel Macron: Thank you, Prime Minister, dear Kyriakos. Thank you all of you. I am very happy and proud to be here with my ministers and my delegation.
I think that obviously the friendship and the ties between the two countries are long-standing but I also think that we are transforming this relationship and from 2021, given the challenges we face, we are building a new broad partnership. It is indeed a global and strategic partnership. It will be about defence and security, obviously, but we will also sign up for other areas: energy, economy, culture, innovation. That is why this relationship is important, both for your country, which is at the forefront in terms of some of the most important challenges for Europeans, but also for both of our countries.
And I want to tell you that in my words yesterday I expressed a real commitment from France. You can count on us. Thank you.
