A wide range of issues of bilateral, regional and international interest were raised during the private meeting of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the American President, Joe Biden, but also subsequently in the extended talks between the two delegations.
According to government sources, the Greek side appears very satisfied with the first day of the Greek Prime Minister's program in Washington, noting that the atmosphere at the meeting of the two leaders was very good, as, as noted, the US President knows in depth the issues of the Eastern Mediterranean. , is of particular interest to them, while his extremely positive feelings towards Greece were reflected both in his frequent references to the Greek-American community, and in the time he devoted to these contacts.
The same sources characteristically stated that the Greek-American relations are at the best point they have ever been and pointed out that Greece has an important role to play in the issue of defending and consolidating the Republic worldwide, an issue for which Joe Biden shows lively interest, ie the battle between Republics and authoritarian regimes.
As was reasonable the discussion of the two revolved extensively around the Ukrainian and the united western front against the Russian invasion, but also on how the US will contribute in practice to make Europe independent of Russian gas.
Turkish provocation on the table - a clear reference to the Cyprus issue
During the discussion of the two leaders, Kyriakos Mitsotakis set out to his interlocutor all the details, which concern the intensifying Turkish provocation, namely the overflights over inhabited Greek islands. "It is now clear that everyone understands that expansionism and revisionism have no place in an increasingly complex global landscape," government sources said after the meeting at the White House, confirming that the issue of Turkish provocation was not raised alone but as part of security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Regarding the issue of the sale of American F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, a competent government source referred to today's speech of the Greek Prime Minister to the Congress, stressing, however, with meaning that some issues are better not to be discussed in public. The same sources, moreover, stressed that the Greek Prime Minister referred to the Cyprus issue without "chewing" his words, reiterating that a two-state solution can not be accepted.
On the way to F - 35
Government sources also confirmed that in the context of bilateral defense cooperation, the decision of Athens has been made that the 5th generation fighter aircraft, which will man the Air Force, will be the American F-35.
According to the same sources, Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed the desire for his country to join the specific program, clarifying that Greece is interested in buying an F-35 squadron before the end of the current 10 years, and specifically after 2028, when and as it was said with emphasis there will be the necessary budgetary space for such a move.
Understanding of brave intervention in the international energy market
Among the highlights of the Mitsotakis-Biden meeting at the White House and the understanding of the two leaders on the issue of reducing the price of gas internationally through the imposition of a ceiling. In fact, the two men agreed to coordinate their actions in view of the crucial extraordinary EU Summit at the end of May, hence they reportedly authorized Nikos Tsafos, who is appointed special adviser to the Greek Prime Minister on energy issues, and Eric Hokstein , an adviser to President Biden on energy issues to work closely with.
"In order to keep the front against the Russian invasion tight, we must protect households and businesses. Greece has already done so with great courage, raising funds from the national budget, but this does not mean that we are not active at European level." point out government sources, who confirm that Athens is waiting for the submission of the relevant proposals by the Commission.
The same persons estimate that a solution can be given either through the utilization of the unsecured loans from the Recovery Fund, or through a ceiling intervention in the wholesale market of natural gas internationally. As the saying goes, however, "we can not turn off the Russian gas switch overnight." Regarding the Eastmed pipeline, the Greek side reiterated its positions that the final choice, ie whether the solution of the pipeline or that of the liquefied natural gas transport will be approved, will ultimately be determined by the market and the cost.
However, the warm American support for the electrical interconnections was reaffirmed, without excluding American investments in them in the future.
Source: RES-EAP