Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis’ statements following his meeting with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Johann Wadephul (Berlin, 17.03.2026)

G. GERAPETRITIS: It is a great pleasure and honor to meet today in Berlin with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Johann Wadephul.

Greek-German relations are currently at a highly satisfactory level. My German counterpart and I meet frequently in Brussels in the context of the Foreign Affairs Council, where we addressed the ongoing crisis in the wider Middle East just yesterday. We call on all parties involved to immediately de-escalate and to pursue a solution through diplomacy. We urge all parties to exercise the necessary restraint so as to prevent further escalation in the region.

Universal respect for International Law, International Humanitarian Law, and the UN Charter constitutes a fundamental principle for maintaining international peace and security.

The security of the European Union is inextricably linked to the situation in the Middle East. Our support for Cyprus is tangible, including through our defense assistance. We also express our solidarity with our partner Gulf countries, which have been subjected to unprovoked attacks.

We must not overlook the impact of the war on energy markets, supply chains, food security, and maritime transport. Greece, as a maritime nation with the world's largest merchant fleet, attaches particular importance to freedom of navigation and the safety of Greek seafarers. I would especially like to thank my dear friend Johann for his support of Greece's request, and for our joint efforts, to safeguard freedom of navigation. This is further demonstrated by the leading role Greece has undertaken in Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea.

Nevertheless, Greece has no intention of becoming involved in the ongoing war. Furthermore, we express our strongest disapproval of the attacks against Greek merchant vessels operating in full legal compliance. Attacks in the Black Sea endanger the safety of crews, while those taking place in the Mediterranean raise very serious environmental concerns about the risk of an imminent ecological disaster.

The European Union is called upon to address unprecedented challenges and must rise to the occasion. The security of our continent is indivisible. The past four years have profoundly shaken the European Union and have served as a catalyst, prompting policy adjustments and accelerating decision-making, so that Europe may become strategically autonomous, competitive, and stronger. Germany's role in this regard, as a major European power, is absolutely decisive.

We agreed that EU enlargement should remain a strategic priority. Twenty-three years after the Thessaloniki Agenda, and with a view to Greece's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second semester of 2027, we support the need to provide new momentum and vision for the peoples of the Western Balkans to advance their path towards European integration. Together with Germany, we will work to further leverage this strength.

Our cooperation with Germany within NATO and the UN Security Council is highly productive. With regard to the North Atlantic Alliance, we discussed the emerging security challenges and our strategic priorities. I would like to emphasize that, within the framework of our allied relationship, we consider it necessary and self-evident that all allies make clear that defense equipment must not be used against other allies.

The current crisis in the Middle East underscores the geopolitical importance of the Eastern Mediterranean. We attach particular importance to strengthening our cooperation in order to jointly address the challenges in the wider region. We expect key partners and allies, such as Germany, to demonstrate solidarity and understanding regarding the sensitive balances in the Eastern Mediterranean.

With particular regard to the bonds between our two peoples, dear Johann, I would like to refer to the profound influence of classical education and literature on the shaping of German philosophy and culture; the significant contribution of German scholars to the study and promotion of ancient Greek civilization; the education of many Greeks at German universities; as well as the thousands of our compatriots who have lived and prospered in Germany for decades. Equally noteworthy is the consistently high number of German visitors to Greece every year.

Allow me to particularly acknowledge the great visionary, advocate of the European idea, and I dare say philhellene, Jürgen Habermas, who passed away a few days ago-an eminent theorist of the public sphere. In Athens, one of the most renowned German architects, Ernst Ziller, left a significant legacy, having designed many of the city's buildings today, including the central building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The dynamic Greek community, which today numbers more than 500,000 citizens in Germany, as well as the tens of thousands of Germans living in Greece, serve as a genuine bridge of friendship and cooperation between our peoples.

I believe the time has come to lift, in a tangible manner, the last remnants of the past's burdens.

Dear Johann, esteemed Minister, our traditionally close bilateral relations have long since moved beyond the particularly difficult period we faced approximately 15 years ago, during the major economic crisis that struck Greece. Through great effort and significant sacrifices by the Greek people, Greece emerged after ten difficult years from a crisis that shook the country and threatened its place at the heart of the European edifice. In recent years, our country has been recognized as a success story in economic recovery and stabilization, as well as for the initiatives it undertakes within the core of the European Union.

Following the 7th Round of Greece-Germany Consultations held in Berlin last November, we look forward to further deepening relations between our two countries in the fields of economy, trade, investment, renewable energy, as well as migration - an issue to which the esteemed Minister also referred. Migration constitutes a challenge that we must address jointly, as it transcends geographical boundaries.

Greece, as a frontline country, underscores the importance of respecting the principles of solidarity, fair burden-sharing, and humanitarian values. Effective protection of the European Union's external borders and the management of migration flows must constitute a shared priority. Cooperation between our two countries at this level has already yielded highly positive results, particularly in view of the entry into force of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum this coming June.

My dear friend Johann and I also discussed recent developments at the international and regional levels. We are concerned about the situation in Lebanon and express our support for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We support Lebanon's efforts to maintain stability, as well as the willingness of President Joseph Aoun to engage in direct negotiations with Israel.

We also express our concern regarding the situation in the West Bank and the possible creation of adverse faits accomplis. Greece believes that the only realistic and sustainable solution is lasting peace through the establishment of a Palestinian state, which must also fully guarantee security in the wider region, particularly the security of Israel.

In this context, we support the reform of the Palestinian Authority, so that it may constructively and effectively assume genuine governance of Gaza and the West Bank.

As we discussed with the esteemed Minister and friend, the situation in the Middle East must not distract us from the situation in Ukraine, which, for more than four years, has continuously constituted a substantive violation of the principles of International Law. The targeting of civilians, as well as of energy infrastructure, by Russia, constitutes a blatant violation of International Law. We must adopt a united and resolute stance against such aggression and uphold full respect for International Law.

Dear Johann, my presence here today in Berlin reaffirms the Greek-German alignment at such a critical juncture for international peace and security. It will be a particular pleasure and honor to welcome you to Athens in the near future and reciprocate your exceptionally warm and gracious hospitality.

Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: I have a question for both Ministers. The U.S. President, Donald Trump, warned that he would not forget those states that do not participate, by military means, in ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz. What consequences do you expect following this warning by the U.S. President? For instance, Greece has significant economic interests in the Gulf region, as well as strategic and geopolitical interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

And a follow-up question, if I may, to the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs: following the attack on the British military base in Cyprus, the federal government announced that Germany does not intend to increase its military presence in the Mediterranean. You referred to threats against Cyprus and Greece. This decision not to increase Germany's military presence has been perceived by many in Greece and Cyprus as a lack of solidarity on Germany's part. What is your response to this?

G. GERAPETRITIS: Greece's position has been clear from the outset: it has no intention of becoming involved in the war. Greece's stance also reflects certain additional characteristics specific to our country. First, Greece is already actively engaged in the European operation ASPIDES, providing escort and defense assistance to vessels crossing the Red Sea. In that sense, we are already contributing to a mission.

Let me stress from the outset that our priority is the safety of our seafarers currently in the Gulf, as well as of Greek vessels that are, in effect, stranded in the region. We call on all parties involved - and in particular Iran - to ensure freedom of navigation and to refrain from any action that would violate the International Law of the Sea.

As you are aware, we have undertaken specific initiatives within the UN Security Council framework to safeguard freedom of navigation. This issue extends beyond oil prices; it is intrinsically linked to global food security, prosperity, and social cohesion worldwide. We will continue to pursue these efforts. Our position is that the priority must be a return to diplomacy to fully restore freedom of navigation. Any threat to this freedom is unacceptable.

JOURNALIST: I would also like to ask both Ministers about the Strait of Hormuz. I understand that you rule out participation in a NATO operation; however, what concrete steps can you take already at this stage, while the war continues, to protect shipping? Would a European operation - perhaps a "coalition of the willing" - be conceivable from a military standpoint? Could you envisage direct arrangements with Iran to allow individual vessels to transit the Strait, as India appears to have done?

G. GERAPETRITIS: In my view, the issue of the Strait of Hormuz is an exceptionally delicate one. Approximately one quarter of global oil products transit through it. It is therefore inconceivable that there should be any threat to vessels carrying these goods. For this reason, we have called on all parties, in the clearest possible terms, to refrain from any aggressive action. Our position is that a broad international coalition is required to safeguard freedom of navigation.

We have undertaken initiatives within the UN Security Council specifically on this matter, and we believe that, in cooperation with all relevant regional actors - including the Gulf countries and, of course, Iran - it must be ensured that freedom of navigation remains entirely unaffected by any act of aggression or armed conflict. We do not consider isolated arrangements that allow vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz to be the optimal solution. What we seek instead is a stable, comprehensive, and lasting framework that will ensure peace. This can only be achieved within the context of a broader alliance, under the auspices of international organizations, particularly the United Nations.

JOURNALIST: Welcome, Mr. Gerapetritis, and good morning, Mr. Wadephul. I have a question for both Ministers. You referred to EU enlargement. Could you envisage a NATO enlargement that would include Cyprus? You have visited Cyprus. Would you be prepared to use your influence with Türkiye to that end, bearing in mind that Türkiye has been an occupying power in Cyprus for decades?

Allow me to ask my second question in Greek. You referred to migration. Could new migration flows potentially emerge from Iran - possibly on the scale of 2015 or even greater - given the involvement of multiple countries in this crisis? Has this been a matter of concern in your discussions, and have you explored possible ways forward? Thank you.

G. GERAPETRITIS: Thank you very much for your question. A general principle holds true that strength, as a rule, derives from enlargement. The larger an alliance, the more resilient it becomes, and the greater its international stature and footprint.

In this context, the Greek Government has decided to undertake specific initiatives aimed at advancing the European Union's enlargement towards the Western Balkans, which has been pending for 23 years. Our hope is that during Greece's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we will have the opportunity to take the first major step in this direction. I had an extensive discussion with my dear friend and colleague, Johann, on these matters, and we are fully aligned.

It is important to send a meaningful signal that will offer renewed vision to the countries of the Western Balkans, after more than two decades of waiting, naturally, without any concessions on the established accession criteria.

As regards NATO, Greece will, of course, support the choices of Cyprus. We continue to believe that any enlargement creates condition of enhanced resilience and solidarity.

Turning to migration, which is indeed a matter of global significance: we are, of course, concerned about population movements in the wake of the broader conflict affecting multiple countries in the wider Middle East, and we are taking the necessary measures in this regard. However, the issue is not confined to the Middle East. As you are well aware, the situation in Africa - particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa - is highly volatile, and there is significant pressure originating from that region.

It is essential that frontline countries, such as Greece, receive the necessary solidarity to effectively safeguard their external borders. It is a fundamental policy choice of the Greek Government to ensure the effective protection of both Greek and European borders. We will continue to pursue this policy, fully respecting humanitarian values.

It is particularly important that Greece and Germany maintain a common approach on migration. Above all, however, we must work together - both bilaterally and within the framework of the European Union and other international organizations - to eliminate the underlying causes that drive migration flows. In other words, we must strive to establish conditions of peace and prosperity in regions currently under severe pressure, whether due to armed conflict or other factors such as food insecurity and the climate crisis.

March 17, 2026