At the Maximos Mansion, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Emmanuel Macron are set to sign the new Greece–France defense cooperation agreement

The signing of the renewed defence practice statement betwixt the 2 countries—an statement of large nationalist importance—is imminent.

On behalf of Greece, the statement volition beryllium signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Nikos Dendias.

A cardinal constituent of this agreement, which is renewed until 2031, is that it volition beryllium the past 1 signed successful the beingness of the French president and the Greek premier minister, arsenic it volition present see an automatic five-year renewal clause unless 1 of the 2 parties withdraws.

In practice, this means that aft 2031, its hold to 2036 volition hap automatically, without requiring involution from either government. This determination is besides linked to the broader treatment connected European defense, arsenic Mitsotakis and Macron are opening the statement connected however Article 42(7) of the European Union Treaty connected corporate defence could beryllium activated successful an automated way.

Already yesterday, Macron intelligibly demonstrated the spot of the Greek–French narration erstwhile asked whether France would enactment Greece successful lawsuit its nationalist sovereignty were threatened. “If your sovereignty is threatened, bash what is necessary—we volition beryllium present for you,” Macron said during his treatment with Mitsotakis astatine the Roman Agora, drafting lukewarm applause from the audience.

The strategical partnership

The defence agreement, however, is lone portion of the bigger picture. In fact, Mitsotakis and Macron are expected to motion a broader statement contiguous that upgrades the already adjacent Greek–French ties to the level of a multi-layered strategical partnership.

This refers to a broad Strategic Partnership betwixt France and Greece—an statement that marks alignment and practice not lone successful defense, but besides successful the economy, civilian protection, migration, technology, the environment, education, and culture, arsenic good arsenic practice wrong the model of the European Union and planetary organizations.

Additional agreements are besides expected to beryllium signed successful areas specified arsenic acquisition and innovation.