Mitsotakis made a press statement ahead of the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government.
Mitsotakis said his country's support for NATO was unwavering: “We are currently implementing a 25 billion euro modernization program for our armed forces.” he said.
Mitsotakis emphasized that Greece always fulfills its commitments to NATO.
Mitsotakis pointed to the importance of adhering to the agreement signed between the US and Iran, saying: “At a time when the cost of living is a top priority for all European governments, it is crucial to give democracy and diplomacy time to resolve this complicated issue. Of course, I am aware that a further escalation of tensions means an increase in gasoline prices, and we hope that this does not happen.” he said.
About holding the summit in Türkiye, Mitsotakis said: “It was always a pleasure for me to visit Ankara. I have always been a great supporter of the development of relations between the two countries.” he said.
“Hungary will not send weapons or soldiers to Ukraine”
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said in his press statement before the summit that the Hungarian people believe in “the power and unity of NATO.”
“It is in our common interest for NATO to be united and we are determined to reposition Hungary as a reliable ally.” Magyar said the Hungarian government has decided to increase defense spending and reach the 5 percent target by 2035.
Magyar assessed the Russia-Ukraine war and said: “Ukraine is a victim, Russia is a brutal aggressor and Ukraine has the right to defend its territory and territorial integrity. We continue humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, but as we have said many times, Hungary will not send weapons or soldiers to Ukraine.” he said.
Magyar said he had a brief meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and they had agreed to hold bilateral meetings in the future.
Bulgaria’s emphasis on “self-determination of the Greenlandic people”
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev emphasized that today's NATO summit in Ankara took place at an important time when the alliance was undergoing a profound transformation process.
Stating that the summit demonstrated the need and determination of allied countries in Europe to contribute more to NATO's common defense capability, Radev explained that the conflicts in neighboring regions, especially the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, clearly demonstrated that ensuring the security of their citizens is an indispensable responsibility of European states and that this requires constant efforts.
Radev emphasized that the goal of increasing NATO's defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product means not only the development of traditional defense capabilities for Bulgaria, but also includes investments in infrastructure, transport and connectivity capacities, digital resilience and cybersecurity.
When asked about support for Ukraine, Radev said that in the past, many Bulgarian governments have regularly and comprehensively supported Ukraine in the financial, medical, humanitarian and military spheres, but Bulgarian politicians, who promised the greatest financial support to Ukraine, did not take sufficient steps to develop the country's economy and provide new funds to the state budget.
Radev noted that Bulgaria will continue its financial support to Ukraine within its own resources, but this support should not have any impact on social spending.
When asked about Greenland, Radev said: “Our position is that Europe should provide opportunities that allow the Greenlandic people to determine their own destiny.” he replied.
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