Mitsotakis urges good-neighborly relations at NATO Summit
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday that NATO must remain anchored in the principles of good-neighborly relations, as allied leaders gathered in Ankara for the alliance's 2026 summit amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Mitsotakis said burden-sharing among allies remained a central issue, noting that U.S. President Donald Trump had consistently urged European members since his first term to increase defense spending.
The Greek leader reiterated his support for greater European strategic autonomy, stressing that it should reinforce, rather than compete with, NATO by strengthening the alliance's European pillar.
Mitsotakis said Greece had already reached defense spending equivalent to 3.5% of gross domestic product and was implementing a €25 billion program to modernize its armed forces.
He added that Athens had consistently met its NATO commitments, including during years of fiscal austerity, despite facing significant security challenges in its region.
Addressing regional tensions, Mitsotakis expressed hope that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran would hold, saying diplomacy should be given an opportunity to resolve the crisis.
Asked about remarks made a day earlier by Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mitsotakis declined to comment directly but stressed that "an alliance must be based on the fundamental principles of good neighbourly relations."
He said Greece continues to regard Türkiye as posing an open threat of war and argued that the security concerns of all NATO members should be respected within what he described as a fundamentally defensive alliance.
At the same time, Mitsotakis said he believed outstanding differences could be resolved through dialogue, cooperation and good-neighborly relations, adding that it was always a pleasure to visit Ankara and reaffirming his support for improving ties between Greece and Türkiye.
Source:AMNA
