Adonis Georgiadis to Anagnostopoulou: Enduring Stability in Greece–Israel Strategic Alliances

Strategic Continuity Beyond Parties

Georgiadis:“The government of Alexis Tsipras continued the strategic relationship between Greece and Israel, as initiated by George Papandreou, consolidated by Antonis Samaras, and now carried forward by Prime Minister Mitsotakis.”

He stressed that this partnership is “one of the most successful, timeless achievements of Greek foreign policy—cross-party, intergovernmental, and for the first time, on a stable path.”

Analysis: By highlighting the bipartisan nature of Greece–Israel ties, Georgiadis underscored international credibility. For Israel and Greece, this sends a clear message of consistency, insulating bilateral cooperation from political turnover. For Athens, stability in alliances is key to securing energy corridors, defense pacts, and regional leverage.

Israel, Turkey, and the Cyprus Question

Georgiadis: “Good relations with the State of Israel are in Greece’s national interest: a strategic partner in defense, research, technology, and investment—an enemy of Turkey, a critic of Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus.”

Analysis: Here, the minister connects Israel directly to Greece’s core security concerns. By framing Israel as a counterweight to Turkey, Georgiadis elevates the partnership into the realm of existential geopolitics. For Athens, any ally that voices opposition to Ankara’s actions in Cyprus strengthens Greece’s regional position.

Education and Technology: The “Israel Example”

In a provocative aside, Georgiadis linked Greece’s education debates with Israel’s digital rise: “Israel is strong in its ancient language and today is one of the most advanced digital states in the world. The monotonic system or the abolition of historic Greek script had nothing to do with competitiveness or digital progress.”

Analysis: This wasn’t simply about education—it was a statement on innovation and national resilience. By invoking Israel’s success in technology and cyber capacity, Georgiadis reframed the alliance as more than defense: a gateway for Greece into cutting-edge research and technological ecosystems.

Denouncing Antisemitism

Georgiadis: “I have never been an antisemite in my life. Antisemitism is one of the worst mental diseases—extremely dangerous and, for us Greeks, terribly harmful to our national interests.”

He acknowledged past controversy over his indirect involvement with Konstantinos Plevris’ book, calling it a “very big mistake” and repeating his apology.

Analysis: This explicit renunciation signals to allies, especially the US and Israel, that Athens is firmly aligned with Western values. In diplomacy, credibility matters; distancing from antisemitism strengthens Greece’s positioning as a reliable, democratic, pro-Western partner.

Opposition’s Counterpoint

Anagnostopoulou: “A war criminal cannot be a strategic partner. Greece cannot collaborate with a state accused of genocide.”

She added: “Like the collaborators during Nazi occupation, you present Israel as our friend in the name of national interest. This is hypocrisy.”

Analysis: The opposition draws on the international law narrative—that alliances with states under accusations of war crimes undermine Greece’s moral and diplomatic standing. This reflects the classic dilemma in Greek foreign policy: Should Athens prioritize realist security interests or principled adherence to international law?

National Interest and Strategic Continuity

Georgiadis closed with a pointed reminder of Greece’s foreign policy compass: “Our strategic relationship with Israel is well known and fully supported. Antisemitism is a poisonous phenomenon, and Greece must safeguard its national interests.”

He insisted that opposition criticism is driven more by short-term electoral motives than by national strategy, concluding: “The continuity and timelessness of Greek foreign policy is what shields the country and secures the future of the Greek people.”