I am very pleased to participate today at the proceedings of the 66th plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
I would have of course preferred to welcome you all here in person, yet I am particularly glad that we can find ways to engage in substantial dialogue, despite the unprecedented health crisis we are all facing.
Let me begin by thanking the President and, of course, all the members of the Parliamentary Assembly for your hard and important work.
Being myself a Parliamentarian, I know that NATO relies on you to engage with your colleagues and the people you directly represent, in order to explain what NATO is and what it does.
NATO’s role in confronting challenges at our Eastern and Southern flanks, and at countering evolving threats is of paramount importance.
I know that we can count on you to carry the message that NATO is not just a political-military alliance.
It is also an Organization based on shared core values.
These values, enshrined in the UN Charter and International Law, are integral to our common vision and purpose and, as such, we have always sought to promote and defend them.
On specific issues of the Alliance’s agenda:
Greece, as you know, has warmly welcomed the “NATO 2030” reflection process which will, hopefully, produce constructive proposals to maintain NATO’s unity and political role.
NATO, today, needs to strike a balance between, on the one hand, the necessity to respond to increasing global challenges and, on the other, the danger of becoming overstretched, therefore, inefficient.
It is also important to ensure, NATO’s technological edge, which is being increasingly challenged by both state and non-state actors.
Furthermore, we need to preserve and sustain our defence spending.
As you know, Greece, despite extremely tight budgetary constraints, maintains its defence expenditure above the 2% threshold.
We are also working on meeting the 20% target on investment for major military equipment and Research and Development.
In this regard, I am sure that you are informed about the recent decisions by the Greek Government concerning the upgrade of our military equipment.
At the same time, of course, we participate substantially in NATO’s operations and missions.
As technology and innovation open up novel avenues of aggression, only concerted responses can give solutions to security problems, including in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.
Unfortunately, with the INF Treaty dead, the longevity of new START in doubt, and the possible unravelling of other elements of the international arms control regime , there are plenty of grounds for concern.
In this context, we believe it is necessary to keep engaging in a dual-track policy of collective defence and meaningful dialogue with Russia.
At the same time, we should work on bringing China into international arms control efforts.
After all, China’s increasing international role in military terms is having implications for NATO’s interests.
In parallel, the adaptation of our deterrence and defence posture must remain a constant endeavour.
Actually, it should address challenges in the South and be flexible enough to encompass means to tackle new sources of instability such as the illegal migrant flows.
In this context, as NATO’s activity in the Aegean provides a sustained deterring presence,
we are looking forward not only to its continuation, but also to increased Allies’ contributions. This, as a matter of fact, would be a long overdue minimum signal of solidarity to Greece.
In an interdependent world, as was clearly demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we should reinvest in multilateralism and multilateral institutions.
NATO should further nurture its cooperation with other International Organizations and in particular the EU.
The security of NATO and the EU are interconnected:
Together, the two Organizations mobilize a broad range of tools and can make the most efficient use of resources to enhance the security of our citizens.
The Joint Declarations of 2016 and 2018 and the adoption and implementation of 74 common actions, were important steps, as well as political signals demonstrating that the commitment to strengthen cooperation is high.
The two Declarations gave impetus to the NATO-EU cooperation because they embraced the key guiding principles:
(a) openness, (b) transparency, (c) inclusiveness and (d) reciprocity, in full respect of the decision-making autonomy of both Organizations and without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defense policy of any of the member states.
Moreover, we need to formulate a more pragmatic framework of interaction with all our partners, in order to deal with the evolving international security environment.
Particularly within NATO’s Southern flank, the crises in Syria and Libya and the ensuing migratory flows, increase instability and make our cooperation with partners like Israel and Egypt essential.
Furthermore, we need to keep the partnerships open and adaptable, including in relation to countries that do not fit into any existing partnership format.
Thus, we should boost our cooperation with India, whose contribution would be essential in addressing security challenges in Asia.
Greece, being the closest NATO Ally and EU member state to the Eastern Mediterranean and North African cauldron, pursues responsible policies that promote peace, security and development.
Greece understands its role not only as a forward outpost and a front line state, but also as a pillar of stability, democracy and regional cooperation.
In this complex security environment we have, at the very minimum, an obligation to maintain our own house in order and lead by example.
We should not tolerate among ourselves practices that undermine our core values, compromise our unity and subsequently damage our effectiveness in addressing the pressing challenges of our times.
Yet we continue to witness unilateral actions and initiatives undertaken also by Allies in direct violation of International Law and the fundamental principles we ascribe to.
Such actions, directed, in some cases, against other Allies, constitute an affront to NATO’s integrity and cohesion.
These actions also constitute a threat to regional stability and transatlantic interests. They should be isolated, disavowed and eliminated.
Support for an assertive and effective Alliance of sovereign states depends ultimately on whether NATO will:
on the one hand, maintain its core values, homogeneity and solidarity and,
on the other hand, be able to effectively address pressing old and new challenges.
At this critical juncture we acknowledge again that this is not an era to sit idle.
New apt strategies to cope with the unprecedented security challenges are needed and Greece is determined to remain at the forefront of efforts aiming to bring them about.
Greece remains committed to the values and principles which Europe and its transatlantic Allies hold in common.
November 19, 2020