NATO chief, Greek premier discuss regional issues, Athens' role in alliance

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday discussed major global issues and Athens' role in the alliance.

"Our support for Ukraine has kept them in the fight, but we need to go further to change the trajectory of this conflict," Rutte said in a joint statement with Mitsotakis.

Rutte welcomed Athens' support to Kyiv, including sending arms and ammunition as well as providing training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots and technicians.

He said that Russia’s "use of North Korean weapons and troops, Iranian drones, and Chinese dual-use goods" contributed to an "increasingly dangerous" security environment and represented a “challenge to global peace and security."

Underlining that Greece spends 3% of its GDP on defense, Rutte praised the country’s contribution to the alliance.

For his part, Mitsotakis reiterated that Greece remains committed to supporting Ukraine.

Stressing that the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been going on for more than 1,000 days, proved the need to consolidate the collective defense, the Greek prime minister said this requires more investments in the European defense industry.

Cooperation between the EU and NATO should be improved, he added.

On the ongoing Israeli attack on Lebanon, he expressed hope for the French-US proposal to secure a cease-fire.

Following his visit to Türkiye on Monday, Rutte met Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Dendias and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in Athens.

Israel has escalated its airstrikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets as part of year-long warfare against the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.

More than 3,760 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with nearly 15,700 injured and over a million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel on Oct. 1 this year expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon.