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Shkruar nga PamfletiGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron sent a strong message in favor of a stronger, more autonomous and more competitive European Union to Erdogan's Turkey.
French President Emmanuel Macron, during his official visit to Greece, sent a message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He said France would react if Turkey threatened Greece, stressing that Paris "would be present" in the event of a threat to Greek sovereignty.
Macron delivered the message in the context of strengthening the Greek-French strategic partnership, stressing that "Greece's sovereignty is inviolable" and that France remains a strong ally of Athens, Greek media report.
"If your sovereignty is challenged, do what you have to do, we will be here," Macron said.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis assessed that cooperation with France has "existential importance" for the future of Europe and the EU's strategic autonomy.
From the Presidential Palace, the French president reiterated yesterday that France "will stand by Greece at every critical moment," while officials from both countries assessed that the agreement represents a strengthening of defense cooperation in the long term and a model of European partnership in conditions of increased security tensions.
During the dinner at the Presidential Palace, which was also attended by Greek President Konstantinos Tassoulas, Macron emphasized last night that the friendship and cooperation of the two countries are a lasting support in European and global challenges.
During the visit, Macron and Mitsotakis are visiting the frigate "Kimon" in Piraeus today and will hold a meeting at the Maximos villa and will participate in the signing of bilateral agreements, as well as in joint statements to the media.
The frigate "Kimon" in the port of Piraeus, was built in France and joined the Greek fleet.
The Greek Prime Minister and the French President were briefed by the Chief of General Staff and the Fleet Commander in the operations room about the capabilities of the state-of-the-art warship, the most advanced in the Mediterranean, and then went to the bridge of Kimon.
The Mitsotakis-Macron visit was accompanied by impressive flights of two French Rafale jets over the frigate.
The visit is also being attended by the Ministers of Defense of Greece and France, the Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries, as well as the military leadership, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Hellenic National Defense and the Chief of the General Staff.
Defense and NATO, strengthening the European pillar
The French president reiterated his support for a strong "European pillar" within NATO, stressing that strategic autonomy does not mean weakening the Alliance, but strengthening European defense.
For his part, Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined that Europe has already taken on a greater burden, referring to operational interventions, such as in Cyprus, while he supported the strengthening of the European defense industry.
"In Cyprus we responded to a request. We acted at an operational level based on a European treaty. We took on our responsibilities as Europeans. NATO is also there, it is a core of deterrence. However, there are also countries that are not members of NATO, such as Cyprus. Balancing the role of the US will inevitably lead to a stronger Europe. Any imbalance will be to our detriment. We will behave and we will behave," he declared characteristically.
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