Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the defence agreement between Greece and the United States as important for three reasons, noting that its preamble explicitly records the common will for mutual protection against any threat and attack.
Speaking in Parliament, during the debate on the defence agreement, the Prime Minister stressed that Greece is becoming a key partner and interlocutor of the US in the region.
The agreement is a vote of confidence in Greece
«The American writer Mark Twain said that patriotism is to support your country all the time and your government when it deserves it. The mutual defense cooperation agreement with the United States serves national interests and for the government it completes a network of alliances,» Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at the beginning of his speech.
«The text that we are called upon to ratify formally constitutes one of the many renewals of our defence alliance with the transatlantic power,» Kyriakos Mitsotakis said and explained: «America is expanding its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean by also showing energy interest. Our country is becoming the key partner and interlocutor of the United States in the wider region. This becomes even more important if we take into account the unstable situation with a hot war on the European continent and a global energy turmoil on the rise. Exploration for hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean arc is back on the agenda.
As the Prime Minister stressed, «this agreement ceases to be a bilateral protocol and becomes a vote of confidence in Greece as an unwavering factor of stability, as a prudent European and NATO partner that guarantees international legitimacy against any impulses of our neighbours. A crucial node on the new energy map. »An agreement«, he said, »that has a simultaneous impact not only on defence and diplomacy, but above all on the economy and energy".
«It upgrades Greece», the Prime Minister noted and referred to his upcoming trip to the US. «This is evidenced by my invitation to meet with US President Joe Biden and the next day to be the first Greek leader to address the joint session of the US Senate and House of Representatives. It is a great honor to have him declare that our country is treated as an equal and consistent ally so that if necessary it is entitled to demand consistency and solidarity,» added Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
«The three reasons why the Amendment Protocol is important for national interests»
«Those who do not share this analysis either did not listen to the Foreign Minister or have other things on their minds,» the Prime Minister said, continuing his speech, citing three important reasons «why I believe that this amending protocol is important for national interests», which comes - as he noted - as a follow-up to discussions of the previous government.
As Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained, «firstly, this agreement is important because it includes an explicit commitment that the US presence in Greece will be renewed every 5 years with the right for either side to terminate it if it deems it necessary. The US decides to increase its footprint in Greece. It is no coincidence that other European states are seeking to enter into similar agreements with the US or to complement and extend existing ones.
Secondly, this bilateral cooperation with the US is important because it is expanding not only in time but also in space. At the Souda Naval Base, all the infrastructure and the overall role of the base is being upgraded. Souda is the only anchorage where a US aircraft carrier can dock in the Eastern Mediterranean. The firing range in Litochoro, two camps, the first in Volos and the second in Alexandroupolis, are also being used.
Thirdly, the new agreement is important because it explicitly records the common will for mutual protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity against any threat, including armed aggression. A formulation that will not have escaped your attention, gentlemen of the opposition, is repeated by Minister Blinken in his cover letter,» the Prime Minister added.
«Against the inaction of Brussels so far, we have responded with a brave national support programme»
«Today's agreement with the US would be a chimera if it had not been preceded by three years of initiatives that changed the international image of the country», Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, continuing his speech. «The Greek voice is heard everywhere. We protected the European borders on Evros, we limited migratory flows, we contributed to the top conquest of the Recovery Fund. Everyone knows that Greece has grown under this government. It increased its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 miles, adopted maritime zones with Italy and Egypt, Greece is becoming an energy bridge, is strengthening its relations with the Arab world and has signed a partnership agreement of mutual assistance with France. We have done this alongside NATO, building the concept of European strategic autonomy without ever losing our social orientation on the domestic front.».
As the Prime Minister pointed out, «despite the recent imported crisis, we have managed to stay on a growth track» and addressing the leader of the opposition, he said: «This government, Mr Tsipras, has reduced the ENFIA. This is also an important support to the income of Greeks who are forced to suffer the consequences of the war in Ukraine. All this was done while investment was increasing and unemployment was falling. Greece is claiming a European solution to the problem, but it is not standing idly by. Yes, this government has raised the minimum wage by EUR 50 for all workers. And against the inaction of Brussels so far, we responded with a brave national support programme. We said boldly that the supports did not cover medium and higher consumption and we are coming to return the 60% of the additional amounts paid by these households into their bank account. With amounts ranging from 20 to 600 euros. New framework from July imposing an indirect cap on retail prices. Are we satisfied? No. No national effort is able to fully defend itself against the ravages of war and a global energy earthquake. Anyone who claims to have a magic wand to keep electricity prices where they were in 2020 is lying.».
«There is no progress in the economy without prosperity in society and there is no prosperity without security»
«We feel, we listen, we try and that is why I feel that our opponents do not understand that a European force can take ambitious national initiatives. And how we put tangible solutions into practice’, the Prime Minister stressed, continuing his speech from the floor of the Parliament. »This is the government that will tax with 90% the excess revenues of production companies. We are next to every citizen,« Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, adding: »There is no progress in the economy without prosperity in society and there is no prosperity without security. That is why this government has corrected a problematic situation in the Armed Forces and proceeded with targeted armament programmes. This government has invested in the Rafal fighters which are changing the balance in the Aegean.«.
And addressing once again the side of the Official Opposition, he asked, «You, really, of the Official Opposition, what exactly did you do in the field of armaments?» The question was, in the case of the opposition, «What are you? »A big programme. The 500 million naval cooperation aircraft. None of these aircraft are flying yet. At some point your old partner will have to answer for his choices. You entrusted him with the crucial area of national defence, lest we forget.".
«We are with the alliance of the West»
«No state can be alone in a global environment that is constantly being reshaped,» the Prime Minister stressed, explaining that «this is even more true for states with unstable neighbours».
«Tell me one time that Greece has done great things without having built the appropriate international alliances,» Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, noting that «so-called neutrality is turning into dangerous loneliness. The so-called independent policy leads to dependence on situations created by others. We do not float on the four points of the horizon. Nor do we declare ourselves unattached to commit ourselves to the unknown. We are in alliance with the West, we come from enlightenment and we walk with democracy.».
«This is also the interpretation of our clear stance in favour of Ukraine», the Prime Minister continued. «With its own borders, international law is violated. In our foreign policy our principled positions are in line with our national interests. Our presence in the alliances will be dynamic. We are given friends so that we have given support if necessary. At the same time, we are also seeking to promote correlations in the internal affairs of the formations of which we are members.
«The Right Opposition again chooses to be a national exception»
«As far as Turkey is concerned, the preamble of the protocol and what it provides for on the ground, they recognise our rights and confirm our strength», the Prime Minister said in his speech, adding that «on energy, the experience of Ukraine teaches us that wars can also be fought with fuel». Referring to the importance of Alexandroupolis, he said that «we should treat Alexandroupolis as a Greek city of great value for NATO, for the entire Balkans and for Europe. All countries will be able to be supplied with natural gas, reducing their dependence on Russia.» And the Prime Minister asked. Clear words for all citizens to know where you stand.«.
«I am afraid that once again the Official Opposition chooses to be a national exception,» Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted, stressing that «once again the Official Opposition says no to a development that upgrades the country and strengthens our armed forces. What were you really telling us about the Greek-French agreement? Do you remember what you were saying? That the coffins of the Greek soldiers from the Sahel would be returned. Where are they? Your choice is recorded in history. At least now don't add to your grey list of mistakes another one with national consequences.».
«Not all the arguments we have heard are valid. Nor can I listen to nonsense about the party that had Kammenos as defence minister granting independence. You are now coming to wag your finger at us, Mr Tsipras, and to patriotically attack us when your own history and that of those you co-governed is well known,» Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, adding: «I am making a last-ditch effort to change your position. I am making a last-ditch effort to change your position.
And the Prime Minister concluded his speech by saying: «Conditions are changing and we must navigate them with boldness and foresight. The easy road is that of demagogy. On the contrary, the patriotism of responsibility requires maturity and national self-confidence. These will be tested in the vote we will have. Let us prove in practice that we have this maturity and this self-confidence that the country needs so much today.».
