Daijiworld Media Network – Riyadh
Riyadh, Oct 26: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has confirmed that Greece will respond positively to Saudi Arabia’s request to retain the Greek Patriot missile battery in the Kingdom amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
During a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Mitsotakis condemned attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Greece’s solidarity with the Kingdom.
Greece has been contributing to Saudi Arabia’s air defence capabilities since 2021 through the deployment of its Patriot missile system. The Greek battery protects critical energy infrastructure in Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, helping strengthen the Kingdom’s defence capabilities and regional security.
The two leaders reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Greece and Saudi Arabia and discussed expanding cooperation in defence, energy and connectivity.
Maritime security and regional cooperation
Developments involving Iran and the wider Middle East featured prominently in the discussions. Mitsotakis stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and protecting international maritime routes, highlighting Greece’s position as a major global shipping nation.
He said uninterrupted maritime trade was essential to the global economy and emphasised that international law must be respected. Restrictions on freedom of navigation, he warned, could set a dangerous precedent.
The leaders also discussed the East to Med Data Corridor (EMC), a project aimed at strengthening digital connectivity between Europe and Asia through Greece and Saudi Arabia. Preparations for the second meeting of the Greece-Saudi Arabia Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation were also reviewed. The first meeting, held in January 2025, established a structured framework for cooperation across several sectors.
Greece and Egypt resume maritime talks
In his weekly review on social media, Mitsotakis highlighted developments in Greece’s relations with Egypt, including an agreement concerning Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai and the resumption of negotiations over the remaining section of the two countries’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
He described the monastery agreement as historically significant, saying it provided legally binding guarantees to preserve the monastery’s religious character and monastic way of life. It also protects the monastic brotherhood’s use and possession of its places of worship, with guarantees from Egyptian authorities.
Mitsotakis credited cooperation between the Greek and Egyptian governments and acknowledged the support of religious leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the heads of the Greek Orthodox churches in Alexandria, Jerusalem, Athens and Cyprus.
He also welcomed the resumption of negotiations on the remaining portion of the Greece-Egypt maritime boundary following their partial EEZ agreement in 2020.
The Prime Minister said Greece would continue to protect its national interests through international partnerships, dialogue and legally binding agreements.
Mitsotakis criticises opposition over social media restrictions
Turning to domestic politics, Mitsotakis criticised opposition party PASOK over its position on legislation proposing a minimum age of 15 for access to social media.
He said the ruling New Democracy party supported the legislation, while PASOK abstained on the bill in principle and opposed key provisions.
Mitsotakis cited public support for restrictions intended to protect minors and argued that the issue required cooperation across political parties.
Anti-corruption investigations
The Prime Minister also addressed arrests involving the president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation and referees in an investigation into alleged bribery and match-fixing. He separately referred to arrests linked to an alleged large-scale tax evasion operation involving a well-known restaurant chain.
Mitsotakis stressed that the courts would determine the outcomes of the cases and that the presumption of innocence must be respected. At the same time, he reiterated his government’s commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring equal treatment under the law.
He said investigations must proceed without interference, including when they involve influential individuals in sport, business or public institutions.
Greece advances AI and supercomputing infrastructure
Mitsotakis highlighted the inauguration of Greece’s national supercomputer, DAEDALUS, in Lavrio, describing it as an important step in the country’s development of artificial intelligence and advanced computing infrastructure.
According to figures cited by the Prime Minister, DAEDALUS can perform 89 quadrillion calculations per second, placing Greece among the leading countries in supercomputing performance.
He also referred to new facilities at the Demokritos research centre, which will support work in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and next-generation networks. The centre will house infrastructure connected to DAEDALUS and the PHAROS AI Factory, alongside plans for a new institute focusing on research integrity, safety and ethics.
Wage growth, tourism and exports
On the economic front, Mitsotakis highlighted a new collective agreement in Greece’s cement industry that provides annual wage increases of more than 5.5 per cent. The agreement also includes seniority-related benefits, additional payments for larger families and student allowances.
He said the agreement was the 161st signed since the introduction of the National Social Agreement on Collective Labour Agreements.
Mitsotakis also reported that foreign visitor arrivals increased by 10 per cent during the first eight months of 2026, while tourism revenue rose by 9.4 per cent to €18.2 billion. Goods exports increased by 17.3 per cent, according to figures he cited.
National museum expansion and Thessaloniki celebrations
The Prime Minister welcomed approval of the final designs for the expansion and modernisation of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The project includes additional exhibition spaces, upgraded visitor facilities and a public garden with approximately 250 new trees.
He also referred to celebrations in Thessaloniki marking the feast of its patron saint, Saint Demetrios, and the 114th anniversary of the city’s liberation. Mitsotakis confirmed that he would attend the October 28 Ohi Day parade in Thessaloniki, describing the commemorations as reminders of the strength Greeks demonstrated during difficult periods in their history.