Greece and Saudi Arabia Cement Partnership Across Seven Pillars of Cooperation

The inaugural meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Greece and Saudi Arabia.

Greece and Saudi Arabia have formalized their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across seven key areas: defense, trade and investment, energy, tourism, culture, sports, and political coordination.

This was the central outcome of the inaugural meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), held on Monday in Al Ula and jointly chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Greece and Saudi Arabia.

The HLSCC approved 46 joint initiatives, with oversight by seven committees (defense, trade and investment, energy, tourism, culture, sports, and political coordination) led by ministers from both nations. Key agreements include:

– Expanding defense cooperation and establishing a long-term military partnership.
– Promoting trade and investment, particularly in shipping, agriculture, and renewable energy.
– Advancing energy collaboration through projects like the East-Med Corridor Submarine Fiber Optic Cable and clean hydrogen development.
– Boosting tourism via a 2024-2026 joint action plan to increase mutual travel and private sector engagement.

The Greek delegation, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in Saudi Arabia for the inaugural High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in Al Ula.

This marks the first such council Greece has established with a Middle Eastern nation, elevating relations between the two countries to a strategic level.

A milestone in bilateral relations

The HLSCC’s formation follows the 2022 signing of an agreement to establish the council. Both leaders emphasized the importance of this partnership in addressing global challenges and fostering regional stability and prosperity.

“This shows how much value we attach to cooperation with Saudi Arabia at this critical juncture for the world,” Mitsotakis said, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s strategic role as a partner for Greece and the European Union.

Regional and global implications

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

In private discussions, Mitsotakis and the Crown Prince addressed pressing regional issues, including the conflicts in Gaza and Syria and maritime security in the Red Sea. The Greek PM reiterated Greece’s commitment to a two-state solution in Gaza and stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in maintaining regional stability.

Highlighting Greece’s position as a gateway between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Mitsotakis noted opportunities for deeper energy and digital connectivity partnerships. He expressed optimism about joint efforts to advance the IMEC Economic Corridor, a strategic transportation and trade route connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe, aimed at fostering economic development.