Donald Trump might have his own way of presenting reality, but what the American president says about Iran is reasonable, Greek conservative minister Adonis Georgiadis told Euractiv.
The threat continues to exist, said Georgiadis, an influential member of the New Democracy government under Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Can “anyone in Europe could rest easy at night if the regime in Iran possessed nuclear weapons?” he asked.
“I believe not,” he said.
Georgiadis currently serves as health minister, and has previously held several ministerial posts, including in growth, competitiveness and shipping.
How do you assess Europeans’ stance towards Trump, particularly on the issue of Iran?
Trump certainly has an idiosyncratic way of expressing himself – perhaps not always the greatest degree of courtesy. However, the truth is that he does not say unreasonable things. The argument that Europe had largely neglected its defence, having relied extensively on the US for many years, is not without merit.
Indeed, there were periods during which some European states maintained minimal defence spending. It does seem somewhat paradoxical that Greece alone should possess stronger armed forces than many European countries combined. In that sense, I believe that, gradually, there may be a convergence between Trump and Europe on matters of practical reasoning.
Is this our war or not?
Europe was not consulted before this war began. Yet, at the same time, one must ask whether anyone in Europe could rest easy at night if the regime in Iran possessed nuclear weapons. I believe not. Recent developments involving Iran have only reinforced this concern. While we naturally oppose war and are reluctant to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states, there remains a necessity for a degree of global security.
Is the stance of leaders such as Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, with his ‘no to war’ slogan, driven by political considerations, or is there a fundamentally different perception of risk between the US and Europe?
For diplomatic reasons, it would not be appropriate to comment on a foreign government. But, I would note that if Sánchez raises issues of principle – which I respect – then those principles ought to be applied consistently. How can one reconcile such a stance with the sale or co-production of arms with Turkey, a country that occupies European territory in Cyprus? There appears to be an inconsistency there. On the other hand, if it is believed that Iran poses no threat, then I would argue that this is a misjudgment. The threat from Iran has existed and continues to exist.
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Will Greece, Israel, and Cyprus form the core axis of Greek foreign policy in light of new geopolitical circumstances?
I feel both pleased and proud, as a Greek, to observe the development of the relationship between Greece and Israel. It began under Prime Minister George Papandreou around 2009-2010, and was strengthened under former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (2012-2015) with the inclusion of Cyprus and Egypt. Ties have since been sustained by Alexis Tsipras and Kyriakos Mitsotakis. It is quite rare to witness four successive Greek governments maintaining such continuity in foreign policy over a period of fifteen years. This strategic axis is likely to remain in place for many decades to come.
However, this is clearly not something that pleases neighbouring Turkey. How do you interpret Ankara’s behaviour?
Turkey appears somewhat disoriented at present. To begin with, the presence of American weapons in the occupied territories in Cyprus is unlawful under US Congressional legislation, which was also supported by Marco Rubio during his tenure as a senator. Turkish forces are not permitted to use American weaponry for unlawful purposes; therefore, the presence of F-16 aircraft in Cyprus constitutes an illegal act.
I also noted recent remarks by former Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, expressing a wish for the destruction of the State of Israel and its removal from the map. Such statements are unreasonable for an ally, and they suggest that Turkey has lost its strategic direction. I would prefer to see Turkey remain an allied nation and a Western-oriented power, and I hope it will soon rediscover its course.
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