“We will be there! If you look at what we did in 2021 and what we did for Cyprus—for us, that is the definition of friendship and alliance. ‘Greece–France alliance.’ That’s what it is. If your sovereignty is threatened, do whatever is necessary. We will be there for you,” the French president stated, when asked about Paris’s alliance with Athens.

Macron: The EU has many dependencies on China and the US

“We have excessive dependencies on China and the United States; we need to diversify. We should not move toward decoupling from China, because that would make us more dependent on the US. We need a process of gradual repositioning over the course of a decade,” commented Emmanuel Macron.

Macron on NATO: Strengthen the European pillar

“We had a kind of… wake-up call from President Vladimir Putin, but it is clear that NATO is under pressure, as Europeans have taken on their fair share of the burden. At the same time, there is pressure regarding Article 5 from the American side, which weakens the Alliance,” the French president acknowledged.

He continued:
“NATO is useful for interoperability of armed forces. But I am a strong supporter of the European pillar of NATO. We must strengthen it—not to weaken NATO. Europeans must work together on joint operations. That’s what we are discussing in the Baltic, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Hormuz. This is not NATO—it’s Europeans working together.”

Live: Macron’s visit to Athens

• As part of his visit to Athens, Emmanuel Macron is holding talks with Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Roman Agora, focusing on the EU’s role today.
• The French president made pointed remarks about the US, stressing that “this could be Europe’s moment in a time of global disorder.”
• Mitsotakis responded: “I agree with the French president that this challenge is a major opportunity for Europe, which has been shaped through crises. There is a great opportunity to accelerate on two fronts: give substance to strategic autonomy. Greece and France are at the forefront of this discussion.”
• He added that the coming years will be “existential” for the EU and emphasized the need for France and Germany to overcome their differences.

Mitsotakis: Supporting Cyprus was a ‘game changer’

“The EU must take Article 42(7) on mutual defense much more seriously,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis, noting that Greece supported Cyprus at a critical moment, calling it a “game changer.”

Mitsotakis: Europe must develop a 6th-generation fighter

“France and Germany must overcome their differences—I trust Emmanuel and Friedrich (Merz). Europe must develop a sixth-generation fighter jet,” he said.

Macron: The US is welcome in the ‘coalition of the willing’

“We formed a coalition of the willing,” Macron said, referring to the war in Ukraine and a moment involving Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
“All Europeans are participating, along with Canada, Australia, and Japan. It is a very strong initiative.”

“The US is welcome—we value them—but we decided to act. What France does does not depend on what the US does.”

Macron: We don’t want to be part of the war, but…

“The Russian economy is suffering from sanctions over Ukraine. We do not want to be part of the war, but we clearly support Ukraine. We will support Ukrainians in their war of independence. Ukraine is resisting very well—better than some expected.”

Macron’s warning: Europe must ‘wake up’

“This is a unique moment where the American, Russian, and Chinese presidents are all facing Europe. We must wake up!” he stressed, adding that China is harming European industry.

Mitsotakis: Fake news existed even in Ancient Athens

Mitsotakis highlighted concerns about misinformation and technology:
“Fake news existed even in Ancient Athens, but what is happening now is out of control. Deepfakes and online anonymity will be a major challenge, especially with upcoming elections.”

He also emphasized that discussions about trade should connect to citizens’ concerns, such as the cost of living, noting that free trade can lead to lower prices and stronger economies.

The aircraft carrying the French president has landed at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos.”

A few minutes before 7:00 p.m., the French president arrived at “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport. He was welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis.

The presence of Emmanuel Macron in Athens is expected to give new momentum to Greek-French strategic cooperation in defense and the economy.

Greece and France will renew their bilateral strategic cooperation agreement on security and defense, while high on the agenda is also the deepening of cooperation in areas such as the economy, civil protection, and innovation.

Government sources emphasize that the French president’s visit carries particular weight, as Europe seeks a new direction both in strengthening its competitiveness and in shaping a more cohesive defense policy complementary to NATO, at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

According to the same sources, the visit marks a major step in deepening an already close relationship, incorporating new areas of cooperation that reflect current demands, while placing Greek-French cooperation at the core of discussions on the future of Europe and its defense and security framework.

Saturday’s key events

On Saturday morning, the French president will visit the frigate “Kimon” in Piraeus together with Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Around 11:00 a.m., the two leaders will meet at the Maximos Mansion.

This will be followed by the signing of agreements and joint statements to the media.

At 4:00 p.m., the two leaders will visit the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, where they will deliver remarks at the Hellenic-French Business Forum, held at the “Dome.”

Afterwards, the French presidential couple will depart from Athens.

Official dinner at the Presidential Mansion

The day will conclude with an official dinner in honor of Emmanuel Macron at the Presidential Mansion, attended by approximately 110 guests.

Among those present will be senior ministers, Archbishop Ieronymos II, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Dimitrios Choupis, as well as leading figures from business and culture.

From the hotel to the Roman Agora

Following their arrival and transfer to the hotel “Grande Bretagne,” Emmanuel Macron and Kyriakos Mitsotakis will take part in a public discussion titled “Challenges for Europe – The Road to Tomorrow.”

Macron in Athens

The French president is making a significant visit to Athens today and tomorrow to sign, together with the Greek prime minister, the renewal of the Greek-French strategic agreement for another five years.