Greece can play the role of an honest broker in a period of international upheaval, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said in a discussion with journalist Matthew Boyle as part of the “Doha Forum” in Qatar.
Gerapetritis said that under the presidency of Donald Trump, a new model of governance has been applied, which to a large extent forced Europe to reconsider fundamental parts of its strategy: the need for greater autonomy, the formulation of a more comprehensive economic policy and ensuring a fair balance in relations with the United States.
A change in mentality has taken place in Europe over the past ten months, with a strong cooperation with NATO being a key part.
Gerapetritis said that, for the first time, Europe is thinking about its defense capabilities in a unified manner, with programs such as ReArm Europe and SAFE strengthening collective deterrence capability. He emphasized that US-EU and US-Greece relations are at an all-time high and he described the US administration’s efforts for peace initiatives in the Middle East and South Caucasus as “historic.”
On West-China relations, Gerapetritis stressed the importance of new corridors that ensure trade and economic stability. Regarding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), he noted that it is also a cultural corridor that redefines Europe’s strategic direction towards the East.
Gerapetritis focused in particular on Greece’s relationship with the Gulf States and India. India is a country of 1.5 billion inhabitants, the largest democracy in the world and a huge market and Greece has already concluded trade agreements and is preparing a new one on worker mobility.
On the Middle East, the Foreign Minister said it is crucial to have a fair peace process that will allow Israel to live safely alongside the Palestinians. He said Greece is a strategic ally of Israel, while maintaining close relations with all Arab states. Greece can contribute to the future of Gaza in several ways: humanitarian missions, reconstruction and in stabilization forces, while acting as a guarantor for the protection of Christian populations.
On Syria, Gerapetritis stressed that the new government must be inclusive, reiterating that all populations in the region must be protected. He announced that Greece, as a member of the Security Council, will undertake international initiatives to protect religious communities.
The minister described Greece as an emerging energy hub of key importance for Europe. He mentioned that Greece manages 25% of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) internationally, has developed floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) infrastructure in Northern Greece and that it covers 55% of its energy needs from renewable sources. He also highlighted the electrical interconnections with Egypt, Cyprus and Israel.
Regarding the agreements signed at the P-TEC summit, Gerapetritis noted that they upgrade Greece geopolitically, ensure Ukraine’s energy security in view of a difficult winter and strengthen the “Vertical Corridor” as a project of strategic importance. He stressed the need for full implementation of sanctions against Russia, without any circumvention, so that the energy sector remains “clean”.
Closing, he pointed out that over-reliance on Russian natural gas has proven dangerous and that Greece, together with the rest of Europe, is moving towards a more sustainable energy model that enhances security and autonomy.
Gerapetritis met in Doha with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The discussion focused on bilateral relations between Greece and Qatar, with an emphasis on investments, energy and trade. The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments, paying particular attention to the situation in Gaza.