PM says EU should reduce defense dependence on unfriendly countries
The European Union needs to reduce its dependence for its defense on countries that “act in a manner that runs counter to its strategic interests,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday, during a meeting with France’s visiting Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
“Our two countries consider that the ReArm Europe plan offers a solid basis for achieving the strategic autonomy of the European Union. It is an objective that we have worked towards together, from the beginning, with [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron. The aim is to strengthen, as a Union, our level of preparedness and the capabilities of our defence industry, to reduce our dependencies and not to maintain them,” Mitsotakis said in comments before the press.
“In particular, we must reduce our dependence on countries that act in a way that runs counter to the strategic interests of the European Union. And we must protect the national security and defense interests of all member states, without exception,” he added.
Lecornu, who met earlier with Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias and signed a deal to buy 16 anti-ship missiles from France, said the two ministers took the opportunity to discuss the situation in Lebanon, in the Balkans, in the Black Sea, the security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the strengthening of EU’s defense, “through the various initiatives that you are undertaking with different heads of state and government” around the ReArm project, and “to maintain continuity in the shipbuilding-maritime sector, because obviously it is a sector in which Greece is a leader and a privileged partner.”
He also thanked Greece for welcoming French Navy ships, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort group which are currently anchored at Athens’ southern Faliro Bay.
