The fourth field will be the Western Balkans, where Portugal aims to maintain good neighbourly relations, consolidate stability plus security, and create conditions for growth. To achieve these goals, Greece favours and supports the Western Balkans’ Western european perspective.
Developments in European countries, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now form the significantly differentiated landscape, which requires the vigilance from the European and international community to address the associated severe challenges and the forces of revisionism. And it is precisely these types of challenges of revisionism which are directly linked to our national interests. As I have made apparent in my three visits to Ukraine since the Russian attack, this narrative and this way of thinking can also turn the Far eastern Mediterranean region into a “powder keg”. Parts of asia such as India, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan, with which Greece shares common jobs on international developments, in addition to Australia, the continent that will hosts a significant and vibrant Greek diaspora, constitute the fifth field of our actions. Our relations with the African continent, and especially with sub-Saharan Africa, constitute another area of interest for us, since the migratory flows from this region and the chance of emerging hotbeds of terrorism are significant challenges in which our country can play an important role. The second field is usually our strategic cooperation romantic relationship with the United States, which is based on the joint protection of the values of freedom plus democracy, on our participation in defense and other international institutions, as well as on the capitalization of Greece’s geopolitical importance for your promotion and consolidation of security and stability within the wider region. In a rapidly modifying international and regional environment, Greece’s foreign policy will certainly continue to reflect the constant osmosis between national, regional and international developments and the problems that determine them. Nevertheless , in addition to developments on the battlefield, the energy and food crises may accelerate global advancements, with a particular interest for the country, especially in the field of energy and Greece’s ability to contribute to Europe’s energy security. It would be desirable that any kind of reference to neighbouring Turkey inside a framework of rivalry must be absent in a text that will refers to the challenges associated with Greek foreign policy. Nevertheless , our country faces an unprecedented crescendo of asking and provocation, in terms of each duration and intensity, that is far from any notion of good neighbourliness. In this tug-of-war, we respond calmly and decisively with substantiated arguments depending on International Law and the Worldwide Law of the Sea and we reiterate that the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country are not a subject just for discussion and are not available to the slightest questioning. Our country’s foreign policy happens to be governed by principles and it is intertwined with stability, security, respect for the independence plus territorial integrity of claims, adherence to International Legislation and the International Law of the Sea. To defend our nationwide values and interests, interact with our regional and international environment, and achieve the goals, we have chosen to pursue a constructive and productive foreign policy based on interdependent fields of action in the new year as well. “Foreign policy challenges for 2023” The third field is a region with which our country maintains close historical and social ties since ancient times: Center East, Gulf, North Africa. The situation in Libya remains an unsettled issue and we’ll work to resolve it, in a spirit of sincerity plus mutual understanding, with the govt that will emerge from the nationwide elections in that country. Lastly, Greece’s active existence in international and regional organisations is important, as it articulates a coherent and persuading discourse, presents crucial plans and seeks innovative solutions to address global challenges and consolidate international cooperation. In 2023, we will continue our efforts to ensure that Greece can be elected as a non-permanent person in the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term in the 2024 vote. The first industry is our presence in Europe, not only within the platform of the EU, of which we are one of the oldest members, with active participation in all the bodies and institutions and systematic work for its deepening and integration, but also on a bilateral level, with nations on the continent with which we are linked by ties of friendship and cooperation.
