Following the agreement between the US and Iran on the Persian Gulf crisis, Greece’s main priority is to see a full restoration of the free movement of shipping in the region, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday.
Mitsotakis praised the deal and said Athens supports every initiative that would contribute to de-escalation in the Gulf, speaking before the start of a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels.
“Right now, the major priority is to fully restore the freedom of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and of course we are observing with great attention the prices of oil and gas,” Mitsotakis told reporters. “We already have a first important drop, and … it is our responsibility to ensure that the reduction in crude prices will also lead to a fall in diesel and petrol prices at the pump.”
About a fifth of global gas and oil shipments by sea go through the Gulf. The crisis has seen a major spike in fossil fuel prices.
Mitsotakis said the talks in Brussels would also focus on future EU budget spending.
He voiced satisfaction that spending on migration will be increased, adding that Athens “will continue to strive to persuade our partners that common financing tools are required to confront the great challenges in the field of defense.”
“Defense is a common European asset, and should be treated as such,” he said.
Before the meetings, Mitsotakis held talks in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the PM’s office said.
It said that while reaffirming Greek support in the face of the Russian full-fledged invasion, Mitsotakis “stressed that operations must not spill outside the war zone,” bringing up the issue of an armed Ukrainian sea drone discovered on the western Greek island of Lefkada. Athens has repeatedly stressed its displeasure at the incident.
Mitsotakis’ office said the two also discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense.
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GR