Progress, security and prosperity are based on respect for International Law and international agreements, underlined according to information, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the first session of NATO sending a message to its new leadership North Macedonia.

Referring to the US president, who underlined the importance of the Western Balkans for the security of the Alliance, Kyriakos Mitsotakis made special reference to the Prespa Agreement which, he said, allowed the enlargement of the Alliance with the accession of North Macedonia.

The full implementation of the Prespa Agreement, the Prime Minister explained, it is for the Alliance, for the Western Balkans and for the international community.

Violation or selective enforcement of the Prespa Agreement, he underlined, it will degrade the credibility of all efforts to settle other outstanding issues in the Western Balkans and will endanger stability and security in the region.

“Pacta sunt servanda. We all have to remember that.” he pointed out.

It is noted that earlier the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Christian Mickoski, coming to the NATO Summit, violated by young people the Prespa Agreement calling the country “Macedonia” while simultaneously referring to the “Macedonian government” and “Macedonian citizens”.

“To distribute defense spending more intelligently”

Mr. Mitsotakis also gave an interview to Nadia Schadlow member of the Hudson Institute and former US Deputy National Security Advisor, in the context of the NATO Public Forum.

The prime minister’s interview in detail

Nadia Schadlow: It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to talk with the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mr. Prime Minister, I am very pleased to be here with you today. Since we have a few minutes, I’d like to begin directing our discussion.

When you first took office in 2019, Europe had a different view and the challenges facing NATO may have seemed less intense than those we face today. Could you talk to us a little bit about whether NATO has adapted sufficiently from 2019, from 2022? I know that Greece has really led the way in terms of modernization and adaptation, but I would love to hear your views.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: When I became Prime Minister in 2019, no one thought we would be facing a war in the “heart” of the European continent, but we didn’t after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. I believe that the Alliance has adapted and is meeting this monumental challenge with the greatest possible success.

In 2019 we were still concerned with the question of many European countries meeting the 2% commitment, i.e. defense spending equivalent to 2% of GDP. Today, most countries have already achieved this goal, and those that have not, have clearly committed to doing so. Greece is one of the countries that exceeds the 2% level essentially since joining the Alliance.

We will spend 3% of our GDP on defence, significantly modernizing our Armed Forces and thereby contributing to the Alliance’s overall capabilities. The new challenges, then, force us to think differently about what this means for collective European security as a pillar of the overall integrated structure of NATO. I believe that this debate is moving very quickly in Europe.

Nadia Schadlow: You mentioned European security. How do the EU’s defense measures complement NATO or how do you see the relationship between the EU’s efforts to significantly increase its defense and NATO’s? Is the relationship complementary and in what way?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: In my opinion it is absolutely complementary. We need to spend more, but we also need to be smarter about how we allocate our defense spending. Looking at the European defense industry, I see a lot of fragmentation, I don’t see enough interoperability. I see, sometimes, I wouldn’t say unnecessary competition, but definitely too many weapon systems that don’t communicate with each other. We need to spend more, but we also need to be smarter about how we allocate our spending.

I believe that at a time when the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe, we also need to be creative in finding new sources of funding to support our defense spending. It is not enough to rely only on national budgets, as we have done until now.

That is why they have been one of the staunch advocates that we need some sort of mechanism to supplement the defense spending we undertake at national level with more European funding. Therefore, this combination of public and private initiatives, in my opinion, will be necessary if we are to build a strong political pillar in terms of NATO’s overall defense capabilities.

Nadia Schadlow: Will it be some kind of other fund? How do you imagine this mechanism?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: He is putting forward with Prime Minister Donald Tusk a proposal for a flagship project, essentially an “Iron Dome”, which would complement existing air defense capabilities and which could – I stress the wording “could” because we clearly do not have an agreement at this stage – to be financed through common European borrowing.

When we faced the pandemic, in 2020, we took the particularly important decision to raise €750 billion to deal with the downturn caused by COVID in our economies. This money is used today. It is a tool.

I have the feeling that we have raised 750 billion euros for the exercise and the digital transition, to support our competitiveness and to move forward in places, it would make sense to be able to raise a significantly smaller amount, at a level level, to strengthen them . our European defense initiatives.

Nadia Schadlow: That was going beyond the 2% discussion, right? But it’s different, they’re alternative ways to get to 2%, but also ways to increase defense capabilities, especially overall defense capabilities.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: It is also, of course, about ways of strengthening the European defense industry at a time when we are talking a lot about strategic autonomy, when the issue of competitiveness is at the top of our agenda. Strengthening European defence, cooperation, European innovation. is taking some first steps in this direction but we clearly need to do more.

Nadia Schadlow: Greece has done an incredible amount for Ukraine. You are one of the leading states in supplying Ukrainians with missiles and ammunition. What more do you think NATO needs to do in a hurry and how can we get there? A key issue over the past year has been the speed and ability or not of NATO to move weapons into Ukraine quickly enough. This is a problem we had in the United States as well. How do you think things could change in the coming months or what could have a meaningful impact on us acting faster?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Europe has lived up to its task and has proven to be effective. In 2022 I think many, including many in Moscow, will be haunted by Europe’s inability to remain united in supporting Ukraine. They were wrong. Europe remains united. We provide Ukraine with European financial aid, 50 billion euros. This is an important package that we agreed a few months ago. However, the member states also contribute to Ukraine’s defense capabilities, to the extent of our capabilities. We will continue to do so. And initiatives like the Czech initiative, for example, have proven to be very effective in helping Ukraine as quickly as possible.

At the same time, however, we must consider the gaps this has created in our own defense capabilities. As much as we talk about sophisticated systems, we also need to make sure we have the basics in place. Ukraine showed how important, for example, 155mm projectiles are and that in a modern war not everything is as technologically driven as many thought. Also ensuring that we streamline production, increase our reserves, while at the same time having the ability to support Ukraine is a challenge that needs to be addressed.

Nadia Schadlow: Quantity matters.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Quantity and quality.

Nadia Schadlow: Can you tell us a little more about the Czech initiative you just mentioned?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I believe that the Czech initiative has proven to be an effective way to transfer weapons systems to Ukraine. many countries participate. As you pointed out, the issue now is speed and ensuring that the necessary transactions, for example for the sale of equipment, take place as quickly as possible. It seems to me that this would be worth looking into further.

Nadia Schadlow: In closing, what are your expectations for the 75th public tax? What do you think of NATO, what do you want to see come out of the 75th Anniversary Summit?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First, I think it is important to take stock of what we have achieved. NATO has proven to be a computer because it has been able to adapt and come back to itself. This is exactly what we must do now. For me, the most critical aspect of NATO has always been the strength of the transatlantic partnership.

I think it is very important that we remain committed to this mutual commitment, but also recognize that in an alliance we all have to do our part. There are no “passengers without a ticket”, which is why meeting the 2% commitment is so important, at least for the countries that have always been very consistent with this goal. Maybe at some point we should discuss raising it. Maybe 2% is not enough. Maybe we need to get to 2.5% if we really want to achieve everything we want to do under the Alliance.

But what is certain is that in a time of great uncertainty, joining an Alliance that is strong, defensive and able to defend us all from external threats is still of undiminished importance.

Nadia Schadlow: Thank you very much. it was my pleasure.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Thank you.