“Greece is a powerful Member State of the European Union and NATO, a country that has strategic relations with the US, which it wants to deepen, and a country that can co -ordinate European policies,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during his discussion with Robert D. Kaplan in the context of the financial tax.

He noted that his government’s primary goal is to consolidate Greece’s security that is a prerequisite for prosperity.

“It is a cliché to say that we live in historical times,” Robert D. Kaplan commented during his introduction, referring to geopolitical developments.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that this period is different from previous times when people were also confronted with challenges.

“Greece is a European country and is a country that has strategic relations with America and geographically the country has a strategic role,” the prime minister said.

In particular, he noted that “Greece is a European country. It is a NATO Member State and a proud, I would say. A member of the European Union and not the black sheep as it once was. This allows us to play an important role in the design of European policies. It is a country that has a strategic relationship with the United States, which it appreciates, considers it valuable and is also a country at the crossroads of three continents. “

It is too early to talk about the end of globalization, the prime minister said. The truth is that globalization has created worldwide wealth that has not been fairly shared, the prime minister said, commenting on recent economic developments.

Asked about US duties, the prime minister welcomed the fact that Donald Trump “pressed the pause button” and said that “there is a window of opportunity that will result in a beneficial agreement”.

In particular, the prime minister made it clear that “Greece has every interest in being in favor of free trade”, he expressed his satisfaction with Donald Trump’s decision to freeze additional tariffs on European products for 90 days and continued saying that “there is a window of opportunity for a US.” “A trade war between them will only have lost. We need to take advantage of these 90 days in order to have a honest discussion. International markets have sent the clear message that duties are a source of intense reflection, “he said.

“The deal must be mutually beneficial. I am moderately optimistic that there is room for maneuver, “Mr Mitsotakis noted.

Mr Mitsotakis also reiterated that there is no reason to impose tariffs on products such as oil, olives and feta, which do not affect the US productive base.

Responding to a question about the situation of the Republic, the prime minister said that “our democracy has already spent 51 years after the fall of the junta and is the best we have ever had. This does not mean that we did not face crises, as was the financial one. And yet we managed to recover and we still have ahead of us. “

“The ghost of populism is always present, sometimes we easily forget what happened in our country 10 years ago. Today there is a powerful center -right party that ruling, as the rest of the opposition is fragmented, so we do not have a balanced political system, a fact that leaves space for populism, “the prime minister said during his debate with Robert D. Kaplan, noting that his danger is:

“I am sure that as we fulfill our commitments, as we increase salaries and jobs we will have even better days ahead of us because we are in a strong financial position, which is now perceived by the average citizen. As we do all of the above and remain humble we have a great opportunity to win the 2027 elections. “

The prime minister also noted that “political stability is very important today” and stressed that “in Greece the government is enjoying a strong parliamentary majority, estimated by international investors.”

Referring to meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that “I believe that these meetings are important to understand each other better.”

“We are doomed by geography to live with Turkey and we must be able to live peacefully, but also to be able to resolve the only difference we have, namely the delineation of EEZ and continental shelf. This difference has not been resolved for 50 years, I am not optimistic that it will be resolved in the near future, but that does not mean that we should not talk to Turkey and work together in areas that promote the relations between the two peoples. I put you as an example the issue of visa visa for Turkish citizens for their 7 -day stay in 12 islands in the Eastern Aegean, which has delivered positive results not only economically. But at the same time I am not naive, I know that we must always have a reliable deterrent to Turkey, which is why we are constantly strengthening our armed forces as we promote EU strategic autonomy, “the prime minister said.

“I have met Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan many times, it is important to have open communication channels – in terms of Greek -Turkish relations I am identifying myself as an optimistic realist,” he added and pointed out:

“However, our foreign policy is not exhausted in relations with Turkey. Greece is developing strategic relationships with Israel, Egypt and Gulf countries, we are investigating with the help of American giants, such as Exxon and Chevron the possibility of natural gas deposits south of Crete, and we want to be honest interlocutors with all players in the Eastern. It is in our interest to work for a safe and prosperous Eastern Mediterranean. “

Asked what his relationship with US President Donald Trump is, Kyriakos Mitsotakis characteristically said that “we have a strategic relationship with the US, I have worked with President Trump and during his first term and I think we can maintain the good relationship we have” and continue:

“It is my obligation to work with him, it is positive that we know and I want to work on a relationship that has a strategic depth. We have common interests with the US, Greece’s importance to the geopolitical and economic dimension is great for the US and this is recognized by both parties in the US, which was also given in my own speech in Congress in the spring of 2022. “