Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis traveled to Saudi Arabia under strict secrecy because of the broader situation in the Middle East, meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh.
The trip had been anticipated for several weeks, particularly following the “Mecca Agreement,” although no date had previously been announced.
Regional developments, defense cooperation and the further deepening of strategic ties between Athens and Riyadh dominated the talks, with particular emphasis on energy and connectivity.
Patriot Battery to Remain
A central issue at the meeting was Athens’ decision to accept Saudi Arabia’s request for the Greek Patriot air defense battery deployed in the kingdom to remain there.
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Mitsotakis informed the crown prince of the decision, underscoring what he described as Greece’s tangible solidarity at a critical time for Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
The Greek prime minister condemned the attacks against Saudi Arabia and said the Greek presence, which has contributed to the kingdom’s air defense since 2021, also serves regional security.
Mitsotakis said the Patriot battery protects critical energy infrastructure in Yanbu, a Saudi city on the Red Sea coast.
What They Said About the Middle East
The two leaders held extensive discussions on developments in Iran and the wider Middle East, with particular emphasis on freedom of navigation.
Mitsotakis reiterated that Greece, as a major maritime nation, attaches the utmost importance to the security of international sea routes and the uninterrupted flow of global trade.
Against that backdrop, he stressed the need to respect the international legal framework, warning that imposing restrictions on freedom of navigation would create a dangerous precedent.
The two leaders also reaffirmed the strategic nature of bilateral relations and examined ways to further strengthen cooperation in energy, defense and connectivity.
Particular attention was given to the EMC, or East to Med Data Corridor, a project aimed at connecting Europe and Asia through Greece and Saudi Arabia in the field of data infrastructure.
The meeting also covered the second session of the two countries’ High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
The two sides reviewed the progress made since the council’s first session in January 2025, which placed cooperation between Athens and Riyadh on a systematic and institutionalized footing across a range of sectors.