Press statement

Prime-minister, dear Kyriakos,

It's great to be back here in Athens, in Greece. Indeed, today, we discussed and will discuss regional security challenges and how we as Allies can continue to provide meaningful support to Ukraine.

Greece joined NATO indeed, more than 70 years ago, 72 years ago, to be precise, and since then, you have been a dedicated Ally, and you have played a crucial role in supporting our collective defence. Greece has long made security a priority, investing 3% of GDP in defence. You have a highly skilled military and increasingly advanced capabilities, and this month, you announced plans to modernize them even further.

Greece is home to a growing defence industry. You host important training facilities and exercises, including the recent air power exercise Ramstein Flag. And Greek soldiers played their part in KFOR and in NATO Mission Iraq.

Greece has also supported Ukraine since the early days of Russia's full scale invasion in February 2022. Last month, you signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, and I welcome that Greece will help accelerate F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots and technicians, strengthening their hands in this brutal war.

All of this is essential in an increasingly dangerous environment. In pursuing its illegal war in Ukraine, Russia makes use of North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones and Chinese dual use goods for its defence industry. This is a dangerous expansion of the war and a challenge to global peace and security.

Our support for Ukraine has kept them in the fight, but we need to go further to change the trajectory of the conflict. We need to provide critical air defences and deliver on the commitments made at the NATO Summit in Washington. The new command, the NATO command to coordinate security assistance and training [NSATU], the financial pledge of 40 billion euros in 2024, and further measures to bring Ukraine closer to NATO.

We must also strengthen our own deterrence and defence, including by boosting defence investment and production.

The good news is that we have in NATO the Alliance we need to defend every inch of our territory, and we have in Greece, thanks to your leadership, a staunch Ally. So again, Kyriakos, thank you, and thank you for hosting me here today and being the friend you are. And I look forward to our discussions during lunch.

Again. Thank you so much.