Mitsotakis’ statement at the NATO Summit – “We are committed to spending over €25 billion on defense over the next 20 years”

“As a country in the Eastern Mediterranean, we welcome the ceasefire achieved by President Trump between Iran and Israel. But allow me to say that a solution can only be found through active diplomacy,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated.

The Greek position at the NATO Summit
The Greek Prime Minister approaches the issue of increasing defense spending by Alliance member states with ease.

Mr. Mitsotakis has long recognized the validity of Mr. Trump’s observation dating from the middle of his first term, although the war in Ukraine has in practice altered the circumstances.

In today’s intervention at the Summit, Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize Greece’s stability and reliability as an ally, as it upheld the NATO defense spending commitment (2% of GDP) even during the difficult years of the financial crisis, contributing significantly to the Alliance’s capabilities in a region critical for regional and international security.

Mr. Mitsotakis will refer to recent developments in the Middle East, while highlighting that Greece spends 3% of its GDP on defense, as it faces multiple security challenges.

Thus, Greece belongs to the hard core of Alliance countries that have exceeded the current 2% commitment and ranks 5th among NATO countries in defense spending as a percentage of GDP. The Prime Minister is also expected to refer to the country’s 12-year armaments program worth €25 billion.

Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines, and possibly with other leaders, although no official one-on-one meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan is scheduled.