Dimitris Gatsios (ERT): Good afternoon, Mr. Prime Minister. First of all, happy name day on yesterday’s occasion. I’d like to turn to the statements you made this morning. You referred to the need for a better sharing of responsibilities and for a European pillar within NATO.
So, I’d like to ask you whether you believe that Europe has, until now, relied too heavily on the United States of America. Whether it can fill the gap if the U.S. military presence on our continent is reduced. And what is your message to European allies who are falling short of the targets set for defense spending – do you think they will all be able to meet the 5% threshold? Thank you.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: In order to preserve NATO’s unity as well as its Euro-Atlantic character, it was absolutely essential for European countries to shoulder a greater share of the burden in terms of the distribution of responsibilities within the Alliance. Put simply, this means spending more resources so as to achieve a basic balance between the spending of the United States and that of the other NATO members.
I would like to remind you that President Trump, from his first term eight years ago, had stressed this necessity in his own – I would say unique – way. He was absolutely right.
I believe that in recent years – as a result of both the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a debate on strategic autonomy that is now gaining traction within European Union circles – European countries have realized that they must assume a greater share of responsibility for their own defense. Strengthening what we call the European pillar of NATO is therefore an indisputable priority – I would even say a condition for the very survival of the Alliance itself.
Greece is one of the five NATO countries that – and I am referring to official NATO data – has already met and exceeded the 3.5% target for core defense spending as a percentage of GDP for 2026. Therefore, we are already where other European countries hope to be by 2035.
Greece clearly faces unique geopolitical circumstances that it must address, which is why it has always – even during the crisis – exceeded the then-target of 2% of GDP for defense spending.
However, what is very important is that many other European countries have now realized that this is now a non-negotiable priority.
Support for NATO’s European defense pillar as a whole is also linked to the ongoing discussion within the European Union – since most countries are members of both the European Union and NATO – the maturing of a discussion on how we can make the mutual assistance clause more effective in operational terms. I am referring to Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union.
Therefore, keep in mind that Greece is playing a leading role in this major NATO effort, a fact recognized by both the NATO Secretary General and the United States, which, as I told you, were the ones who launched this entire effort, which is now clearly bearing fruit.
Maria Psara (STAR): Mr. Prime Minister, please allow me a follow up on that answer. Are you, however, concerned about President Trump’s stance and his criticism of the Europeans – not only regarding Iran but also regarding defense spending? Are you concerned that he might withdraw or declare that the U.S. is disengaging from NATO?
May I also ask a question regarding the “bromance” between Trump and Erdoğan? Could this ultimately bear fruit in terms of Turkey’s return to the F-35 program? And what can and should Greece’s response be, both within the Alliance and toward the United States?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I do not believe there is any possibility that the United States will withdraw from NATO. In fact, I must tell you that President Trump, in his closing remarks at today’s Summit, was very positive about the atmosphere that had been created and about the fact that the Europeans responded to – as I told you – the justified call to ultimately spend more on their own, and on our security. Therefore, I believe that NATO is now entering a new era, and this is certainly very positive for all members of the alliance.
Regarding your second question, I can speak about Greece, and what I can tell you is that Greek pilots will begin training on the Greek F-35s in 2027; as you know, these aircraft are already being manufactured, and their procurement is practically a done deal.
It is not my place to comment on the choices of other countries, nor is it, of course, up to Greece to tell the United States to whom it should or should not sell defense systems.
I’m simply making a factual observation: that at this moment there are significant legal obstacles under U.S. law preventing Turkey from acquiring the F-35s, because, as I recall, the reason Turkey was removed from the F-35 program was linked to its purchase of the S-400 system- a system that NATO and the United States consider to be in direct competition with the F-35 program itself.
So, keep in mind that Greece has ordered its own F-35s. Since 2019, when I’ve had the honor of serving as the country’s Prime Minister, Greece has significantly strengthened its air force. I would like to remind you that at that time we inherited a program to modernize the F-16s to the Viper configuration, which was moving at a snail’s pace. Today, that program is moving full steam ahead. We have surpassed 50 aircraft and will soon reach 83. We have procured 24 state-of-the-art Rafales through very expedited procedures. And, of course, we have already joined and are actively participating in the F-35 program.
Sofia Fasoulaki (MEGA): Good afternoon, Mr. Prime Minister. Happy nameday from me as well. Since the situation in the Middle East seems to be becoming unstable again, I think the ceasefire is gradually being “shelved.”
I’d like to ask you two questions. Firstly, has our country been asked to provide any kind of assistance regarding the Strait of Hormuz? Secondly, whether you are concerned – since we are already seeing a surge in oil prices – about whether this is a cause for concern for you and our country, and whether we should already be considering new measures.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Look, we’ve had, I would say, temporary hostilities in the past as well. I believe- and allow me to see the glass as half full- that we will return to a situation of dialogue and continued talks between Iran and the U.S., along with a renewed respect for this fragile ceasefire that has already been agreed upon.
So, on this point, I want to be optimistic. I do not believe we will return to a state of hostilities like the one we have seen in recent months.
Beyond that, Greece is a global maritime superpower. And as a global maritime superpower, it will always defend the right to freedom of navigation, upon which international trade and, in essence, the entire framework of the Law of the Sea are based, as it has been developed and interpreted in recent decades.
Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, without the imposition of any kind of “toll” or other charge, is a top priority not only for our country but, I believe, for all European countries as well as the United States.
Greece is present in the Middle East; it is present in Operation “Aspides,” a European operation aimed at protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and if we were asked to do so – and provided it were agreed upon at the United Nations level – we would also participate in a similar operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
This is not something currently under discussion, but Greece has both the operational capability and the interest in always defending freedom of navigation. And we will continue to do so.
Sofia Fasoulaki (MEGA): Regarding the second question, about the rise in oil prices – does this concern you with regard to our country?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Obviously, it concerns me, but I’d like to believe it’s just a temporary spike.
As you can see, oil prices fluctuate quite a bit; I don’t want to look at prices over a period of weeks or months. We’re in a downward trend, and I believe that once this crisis subsides, we’ll return to prices that are manageable, at least for the Greek economy.
Olga Panagiotidou (ANT1): Mr. Prime Minister, please accept my best wishes on your name day. Let me ask you: Greece is at the forefront of defense spending within NATO. How will this commitment be maintained through 2035, and what tangible benefits will Greek citizens see from this investment?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, Greece already has an agreed-upon defense procurement program worth 28 billion euros, approved by the Government Council for Foreign and Defense Affairs (KYSEA). It is a program that I would like to believe enjoys broad cross-party support. It is the price we pay for our freedom.
I have said many times that we are compelled to bear higher costs than other countries, not only because we want to remain consistent with our commitments to NATO, but because Greece must always maintain a strong deterrent capability, and we will continue to do so.
I believe that Greeks recognize this “sacrifice” we must make, because this money is obviously being diverted from other government expenditures. But they also feel the same sense of pride when they see the Belh@rra frigates arriving in the Aegean, when they see our aircraft flying in Greek skies, and when they also see a Greek defense industry that is developing at a very rapid pace, whether we’re talking about shipbuilding and repair facilities or the many Greek startups that are already beginning to sell products and services to the Greek Armed Forces.
This is the price of freedom, independence, and the defense of our sovereignty and sovereign rights. I believe that as long as I am Prime Minister – and I believe I speak for all Greeks here – we will continue to do so.
Stavros Ioannidis (SKAI): Good afternoon, Mr. Prime Minister. You referred earlier to the casus belli, to Turkey’s ongoing threat of war against Greece. I wanted to ask whether your counterparts, the leaders of the other NATO member states, understand Greece’s positions and arguments.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: This isn’t the first time I’ve referred to the casus belli. I also had the opportunity to do so during our bilateral meeting with President Erdoğan a few months ago.
I believe this is a historical inaccuracy that is inconsistent with both the Athens Declaration nor with the positive atmosphere we wish to foster as two neighboring countries that, despite our differences, must learn to live peacefully and build good-neighborly relations.
I believe all my colleagues in Europe realize that this threat of war, which, as I told you, dates back to 1995, does not, I would say, align with the spirit of the Alliance. I think the time has finally come to put it behind us.
Chrisanthos Koseloglou (ALPHA): Mr. Prime Minister, happy nameday from me as well. In recent hours, we’ve seen Mr. Netanyahu, in a series of interviews, send a clear message to Mr. Trump not to deliver the F-35s to Turkey because it would alter the balance of power in the region.
I’d like to ask you if you’d also like to send a message to the U.S. leadership and if you think that, through some maneuver or “loophole” – Turkish journalists are also discussing the possibility of moving the S-400 system out of Turkey – Ankara could somehow find a way out.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I have already addressed this issue. It is not my job to tell anyone – and certainly not the United States – what to sell or where to sell it. Just as I do not accept instructions on what we, as a country, should buy in order to strengthen our Armed Forces and ensure the country’s security.
Orhan Sali (A Haber): Mr. Prime Minister, first of all, welcome to Ankara. My name is Orhan Sali, A Haber, Turkish television. I would like to ask what is the latest thing between Turkey and Greece, the relations, when it comes to the statements of yours today, how do you evaluate the relations on the eve of the conflicts?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, you know I’ve always been in favor of a constructive, functional, and productive relationship between our two countries, and this was also the spirit of the Athens Declaration. I think on many fronts our relationship has progressed.
Let me just mention the management of migration, where we’re working well together. Cross-border trade has improved. We have many of your countrymen and women who come to the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean through an accelerated visa program. And I do believe always in the value of people-to-people relationships.
Beyond that, I was very clear also when I visited Ankara a few months ago, we have one main difference with Turkey, and that is the delimitation of maritime zones in the Aegean and in the Eastern Mediterranean. And the framework to solve this longstanding problem is adherence to international law and in particular of international law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
I always welcome Turkish hospitality, and again, Turkey organized an excellent NATO Summit, and I will continue to work with President Erdoğan towards a productive relationship.
And even, I want to be here very clear, even if we don’t solve this long-standing problem, which again dates back to the ’70s, that does not mean that we cannot live in peace and work on other aspects of the agenda.
And that is why I believe that legacy problems from the past, decisions that were taken by the Turkish parliament back in the ’90s, simply have no position in today’s world.
So, thank you very much.
