Greek PM Highlights Greece’s Achievements At Diaspora Event

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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s economic progress, strengthening geopolitical position and the need to continue reforms while speaking at a Greek diaspora event in New York.

Mitsotakis said Greece has become “a pillar of stability in a very turbulent region”, while growing faster than most of its European partners and restoring its fiscal credibility. Recent official statements have also highlighted Greece’s falling unemployment, declining public debt and improved borrowing conditions.

He recalled that unemployment stood at 18% in 2019 but has now fallen below 8%, while almost 600,000 new jobs have been created. He also stressed that government measures to support citizens facing the cost-of-living crisis would not undermine fiscal discipline.

The prime minister said Greece had worked hard over recent years to restore its credibility in international markets and warned against policies that could reverse the progress achieved.

Defence and relations with Turkey

Mitsotakis said Greece had undertaken the largest modernisation programme for its Armed Forces and was seeking to build credible deterrence in response to the challenges facing the country.

On relations with Turkey, he said Greece sought good and constructive relations with its neighbours.

“We do not threaten anyone, but we will not accept threats from anyone,” he said.

Mitsotakis also referred to Greece’s handling of migration, saying the country had defended its borders and helped push the European Union towards greater emphasis on protecting its external borders.

Energy cooperation with the US

The prime minister placed particular emphasis on energy cooperation with the United States and the Vertical Corridor, through which Greece supplies natural gas to northern neighbours and contributes to energy security in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

He also said the first exploratory drilling operation by a consortium involving Exxon and a Greek company was expected, probably in spring 2027.

“Energy security and energy independence are critical elements of geopolitical power,” Mitsotakis said.

Greece has recently sought to deepen energy cooperation with the United States, including offshore exploration plans involving major international energy companies.

Greece-US ties and the diaspora

Mitsotakis said Greece had built stronger and more resilient bridges with the Greek-American community and highlighted legislation allowing Greeks living abroad to vote from their place of residence.

He urged eligible Greek voters in the diaspora to register through the relevant platform and participate in future elections.

The prime minister also praised the contribution of Greek Americans to relations between Greece and the United States, saying people living abroad could view developments in Greece from a different geographical perspective.

Greece has changed since 2019, Mitsotakis says

Mitsotakis said Greece today was fundamentally different from the country of 2019 but stressed that the government’s work remained unfinished.

“There is a lot of work that needs to be done, many more reforms that need to be implemented,” he said.

He linked the continued transformation of the country to his stated intention to seek a third term in office. Mitsotakis said the objective was not to “break the record” but to continue transforming Greece and improve living standards while strengthening the country’s geopolitical and economic position.

He also said his government needed to work harder to convince voters that it deserved their trust.

Mitsotakis has publicly linked the 2027 election with his plans for Greece through 2030, while outlining further economic and reform targets for the coming years.

The prime minister concluded by saying he hoped to meet the Greek-American community again the following year, adding that this would depend on voters.

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