Just hours after former Trump administration officials visited Athens, the Maximos Mansion hosted Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.
The meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis focused on key international and regional developments, particularly Ukraine, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Estonian official praised Greece’s crucial contribution to the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, citing Greek troops in the EU’s ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the country’s naval presence in European operations across the Mediterranean and Red Sea.
“Greece has long invested 2% of its GDP in defense, but unfortunately not all EU member states do,” Kallas said, emphasizing that “defense is not an alternative to prosperity—it is a prerequisite for it.”
Kallas urged the EU to act more collectively on defense policy, stressing the need for investments in the European defense industry and continued support for Ukraine, noting that “Russia shows no genuine desire for peace.”
Greece as a Stability Pillar
Prime Minister Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s role as a stabilizing force at the crossroads of crises from Ukraine to Gaza.
“Greece protects the external borders of the European Union and is investing in the modernization of its armed forces. Defense spending already exceeds 3% of GDP, with over €28 billion planned for the next 12 years,” Mitsotakis said.
He reaffirmed the importance of European strategic autonomy, welcoming Kallas’ leadership in strengthening the EU’s collective defense and security capabilities.
The Road Ahead: Ukraine and Gaza
Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s commitment to European unity against Russian aggression, stressing that supporting Ukraine is both a moral obligation and a security imperative.
On the Middle East, he emphasized that Europe must play a central role in post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, in close cooperation with the U.S. and Arab partners, with Greece ready to contribute to the implementation of a peace plan.
EU Enlargement – Western Balkans in Focus
The discussion also covered EU enlargement, with Mitsotakis reaffirming Greece as a steadfast supporter of the Western Balkans’ European perspective.
“As the first Balkan country to join the EU, Greece has a responsibility to guide the region towards the European family,” he said.
Kallas agreed that enlargement is strategically essential and emphasized that stability in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean is a critical component of European security.
Greece as a Geopolitical Bridge
Kallas underscored that Greece’s strategic location, bridging the Middle East, the Black Sea, and the Balkans, positions it as a force multiplier for European foreign policy.
“Improved Greek-Turkish relations are a positive development for Eastern Mediterranean stability,” she said, adding that Athens plays a key role in energy connectivity, transport networks, and environmental security.
The New European Deterrence Narrative
Kallas’ statement that “defense is not an alternative to prosperity, but a prerequisite” encapsulates the EU’s emerging narrative of strategic deterrence: building Europe’s own security and defense capabilities, without relying solely on NATO.
She advocates for a single European defense procurement market, increased defense investments, and strengthening the EU’s defense industrial base to ensure strategic autonomy.
Mitsotakis’ policies align with this vision, emphasizing enhanced European defense capabilities while maintaining NATO commitments.
Diplomatic Message with European Impact
Kallas’ Athens visit, during a period of transatlantic uncertainty and possible U.S. political shifts, signals that Greece is increasing its geopolitical profile and positioning itself at the core of European decision-making.
“Security is a prerequisite for development—and Greece, through its defense investments, is setting the example,” a senior EU diplomatic source commented following the meeting.
Source: pagenews.gr