Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of France Emmanuel Macron shared a vision for EU military autonomy and were allies in signing a historic military assistance agreement between NATO countries in 2021. However, the “Greece – France alliance” slogan suddenly lost momentum.
No one would have noticed the slightest hint of chilliness in the Greece-France relationship if Macron’s MEPs hadn’t voted in favor of a condemning resolution against Greece regarding the rule of law.
A further sign of strain in Greco-French relations emerged when Macron scrapped his April 16 visit to Athens for the Olympic Flame ceremony and the Ocean Conference.
Then, on April 26, despite Paris assuring that Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné would attend the Flame handover for the 2024 Paris Olympics, he didn’t show up, adding to tensions amid expectations of resolving “misunderstandings” in Athens.
Three explanations are circulating regarding the cooling of Greco-French relations. The first suggests Macron’s European aspirations as a factor. Reports indicate he favored Ursula von der Leyen’s position—a respectable “escape” from the problems he faces at home, towards the European Union. Allegedly, he shared this intent with European leaders, including Mitsotakis, who, along with Donald Tusk, backed von der Leyen’s re-election, potentially irking Macron.
The second centers on the recent Paris Conference on Ukraine. Macron allegedly sought increased military support for Ukraine, including weaponry and Western troop deployment for training in Western Ukraine, a request declined by Mitsotakis.
Lastly, Greece’s pivot towards the U.S. in arms procurement could be a sore point. France may have been unhappy with Greece’s F-35 purchase, $2 billion worth of free American military aid, cancellation of a French Belh@rra construction, non-purchase of French corvettes, and additional Rafales.
Source: tovima.com
στο Google News και μάθετε πρώτοι όλες τις ειδήσειςLatest News
Which Islands Will Have Italians Flocking to Greece this Summer?
Well-known Italian travel magazine details reasons why Skopelos, Naxos and Astypalaia are the go-to summer destinations for Italians
Antentokounmpo 5th Highest Paid Athlete in World
The basketball player rakes in 111 million dollars per year, between his salary at the Bucks and endorsements from big brands like Amazon, Nike and Pepsi
Greek FM Gerapetritis: Need to Immediately End Gaza Hostilities
Gerapetritis added that a humanitarian crisis was transpiring in Gaza, with the concerns now being spillover in the wider Middle East.
ETC Report: Greece 3rd Most Popular Destination for Europeans
Italy and Spain are tied as the top destinations, each attracting 8% of travelers
Greece Battles EC to Protect Rice Industry and Public Health
Together with several other EU countries, Greece successfully blocked the European Commission's proposal to increase allowable levels of a banned pesticide commonly found in rice imported from southeast Asia
Eurostat: 3.2% Annual Inflation in Greece in April
The data shows that Greece ranks seventh in overall inflation within the eurozone and second in food inflation
Intrum’s 2024 Report Unveils Greek Businesses Embrace Digitalization for Growth
Looking ahead, over 40% of businesses prioritize development for 2024, with 65% recognizing the potential of digital business models as sustainable investments
IOBE: Mild Drop in April Business Confidence Index (BCI) in Greece
The positive balance of expectations for employment witnessed a marginal decline, while the index for production forecasts also recorded a mild drop
Greek PM Mitsotakis Calls on EU to Intervene Over Multinationals’ Pricing Policy
Speaking about price fairness, the Prime Minister emphasized, "Europe should also mean similar or uniform prices for the products sold by our multinational corporations.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 4% Decrease in EU, 0.3% Rise in Greece in Q4 2023
The EU's GDP remained stable with a marginal 0.2% increase in fourth quarter of 2023
