Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis praised the agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at easing tensions in the Persian Gulf, saying Greece’s immediate focus is the restoration of shipping through the region.
Speaking ahead of an European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels on Thursday, Mitsotakis backed efforts to reduce tensions and highlighted the importance of reopening key shipping routes.
“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 said.
“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.”
Around a fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass through the Gulf, where the crisis has driven up energy prices.
Mitsotakis said EU leaders would also discuss the future budget spending, welcoming plans to boost migration funding. He also renewed calls for common European defence financing.
“Defence is a common European asset, and should be treated as such,” he said.
Earlier in Brussels, Mitsotakis met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the prime minister’s office, he reaffirmed Greece’s support for Ukraine while stressing that military activities should remain within the conflict zone, referring to the discovery of an armed Ukrainian sea drone off the Greek island of Lefkada. The two leaders also discussed the potential of defence cooperation.
Source: Ekathimerini
