With a clear message that dialogue between Greece and Turkey can continue only on the basis of International Law and the principles of good-neighborly relations, Kyriakos Mitsotakis takes the podium at the UN General Assembly, while also highlighting Greece’s role as a factor of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Prime Minister is expected to focus on security, energy, developments in Gaza, Ukraine and the Middle East, the performance of the Greek economy, as well as the need for international regulation of Artificial Intelligence, warning that self-regulation by companies is not enough.

Athens’ position toward Ankara will be one of the key points of the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to stress that Greece supports the continuation of dialogue with Turkey, but only on the condition that it is conducted with respect for International Law and the principles of good-neighborly relations.

At the same time, he will refer to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), emphasizing that it constitutes the only institutional framework for resolving the one and only long-standing dispute between the two countries, namely the delimitation of the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The message he is expected to send is that substantive dialogue cannot be combined with unilateral actions that violate international law or with threats of war over the exercise of legitimate rights.

Cyprus: “A test for the credibility of the UN”

The Prime Minister is also expected to make particular reference to the Cyprus issue.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will point out that 52 years after the Turkish invasion and the continued occupation of part of Cyprus, the issue remains a major test of the credibility of the UN and the implementation of the Organization’s own decisions.

At the same time, he will express Greece’s support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to resume substantive negotiations aimed at reunifying Cyprus.

“Difficult neighborhood” and message of deterrence

The image accompanying the Greek presence in New York is that of a country located in a “difficult neighborhood,” but seeking to strengthen its role as a pillar of stability.

Athens, in response to new Turkish claims regarding the demilitarization of the islands and Kastellorizo, has made clear that it does not want a return to a period of tension, while leaving no room for questioning its sovereign rights.

“Greece threatens no one, but we will not accept any threats from anyone either,” was the Prime Minister’s message shortly before his speech at the UN.

He is expected to link the need for strong deterrence capabilities with the challenges facing the country.

Energy and infrastructure: ExxonMobil and Chevron in focus

A significant part of the Greek presence in New York also concerns the energy dimension.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to present Greece as a bridge between Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, with an emphasis on maritime security, energy and new connectivity infrastructure.

Two major American energy companies are part of the equation.

ExxonMobil is approaching the first exploratory natural gas drilling operation in Greece in nearly four decades, with plans calling for it to take place in spring 2027 in Block 2, in the northwestern Ionian Sea.

At the same time, Chevron is moving forward with its next steps, with seismic surveys expected to begin before the end of 2026 in the Ionian Sea and in offshore areas south of the Peloponnese and Crete.

Athens’ energy strategy also includes American LNG through the Vertical Corridor, with the aim of strengthening Greece’s role as an energy gateway to the Balkans and the wider region.

Gaza, Ukraine and the Middle East in focus

The Prime Minister is also expected to refer to the major international crises, focusing on the war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Libya and Sudan.

The main Greek position will be a commitment to International Law, the protection of international legality and the need for stability at a time of multiple crises.

At the same time, he will highlight Greece’s role in maritime security, in a region where geopolitical tensions have a direct impact on global transport and energy.

The economy as a “passport” to international credibility

In his speech, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will present the course of the Greek economy and reforms as an example of how economic resilience can strengthen a country’s international standing.

He will refer to growth, investment, fiscal performance, the reduction of public debt and the digital transformation of the state.

Particular emphasis is expected to be placed on fiscal discipline, making clear that it will not be relaxed because of electoral cycles.

“We will remain, at any cost, committed to fiscal discipline,” he has stressed, underlining that this was what enabled Greece to restore its credibility in international markets.

Artificial Intelligence as a major chapter

The largest part of the Prime Minister’s speech is expected to be devoted to Artificial Intelligence.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis will warn that the pace of AI development is creating risks that cannot be addressed solely through voluntary self-regulation by the companies themselves.

He will put the need for a strong international regulatory framework at the center of his remarks and will call especially on the United States, where the leading artificial intelligence models are being developed, to assume the responsibility that comes with its leadership.

At the same time, he will stress that international cooperation, including with China, is necessary to address a challenge that concerns all of humanity.