Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, speaks with France’s President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Saturday. [AP]
French President Emmanuel Macron was received Saturday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion as the two countries prepare to sign the renewal of a bilateral security pact.
The agreement updates a pact reached in 2021 between Macron and Mitsotakis that included a mutual defense clause and commitments from Greece to purchase at least €3 billion worth of French warships.
The renewal extends the pact for five years, with automatic renewals thereafter. It is also expected to include new areas of cooperation, such as foreign policy, civil protection and the economy.
The agreement will be signed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias for Greece, and by Benjamin Haddad, minister of state for European affairs, and Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin for France.
Earlier Saturday, the two leaders visited the French-built Greek naval frigate Kimon in the port of Piraeus.
In the afternoon, Mitsotakis and Macron will visit the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, where they are scheduled to speak at the Greece-France Economic Forum organized by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises in cooperation with the French-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, welcomes France’s President Emmanuel Macron before their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Saturday. [AP]