Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met at noon with the Minister of the Armed Forces of France Sébastien Lecornu, at Maximos Mansion.
During their meeting, they discussed the defence cooperation between Greece and France and the prospects for its further strengthening, as well as the latest developments concerning European defence and the European defence industry, following the presentation by the European Commission of the ReArm Europe Plan.
In this context, they exchanged views on the strengthening of European collective defence and European strategic autonomy, as well as on regional and international developments.
The Prime Minister noted that the EU’s cooperation with third countries in the field of defence cannot be contrary to the EU’s strategic interests and European decisions on foreign policy and defence, stressing that the security interests of all EU Member States must be taken into account, in accordance with the decisions of the European Council.
At the beginning of their meeting, the Prime Minister and the French Minister of the Armed Forces had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Mr. Minister, I would like to welcome you warmly to Athens. France is one of Greece’s closest partners. In the fields of defence and security, we have established a very important strategic partnership, which is constantly deepening.
I understand that you had a very good discussion with Minister Dendias. It is obvious that your visit is of great importance, also because defence cooperation is now at the top of the European Union’s agenda.
Our two countries consider that the ReArm plan offers a solid basis for achieving the strategic autonomy of the European Union. It is an objective on which we have worked together, from the outset, with President Macron. The aim is to strengthen, as a Union, our level of preparedness and the capabilities of our defence industry, to reduce our dependencies, not to maintain them.
In particular, we need to reduce our dependence on countries that act in a way that runs counter to the strategic interests of the European Union. And we must protect the national security and defence interests of all Member States, without exception.
Dear Minister, thank you again for your visit.
Sébastien Lecornu: Thank you, Prime Minister, for your hospitality. Every time I come to Athens you take care and dedicate some of your time to me.
Always bearing in mind the quality of the partnership, both professional and personal, that you have with President Macron, you don’t need Ministers to make progress on both. It is the least we can say.
In any case, we had a very good working meeting this morning with your Minister of National Defence, we obviously looked at the operational issues, the postures. I thank you for the way that Greece has welcomed the stopovers of our ships in a country where our Navy is making more stopovers, including obviously the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort group.
We also took the opportunity this morning to discuss the situation in Lebanon, the situation in the Balkans, the situation in the Black Sea, obviously the security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in addition, the strengthening of our defence, also through the various initiatives that you are undertaking with different heads of state and government around the ReArm plan. And in order to maintain a continuity in the shipbuilding – shipping sector, because obviously it is a sector in which Greece is a leader and a privileged partner. Thank you once again, Mr. Prime Minister.
