The General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, Dr. Konstantinos P. Balomenos, following an invitation from his French counterpart, Mrs Alice Guitton, took part in bilateral consultations on 5 May 2022 in Paris, in the framework of the bilateral strategic dialogue between the two countries. The meeting took place at the aftermath of a related visit by the French official to Athens in March 2021.

The two Defence Policy Directors discussed developments in Ukraine and underlined the need to fully respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the need for solidarity and support to defend them, both in the EU and NATO frameworks.

During the meeting, the two officials had the opportunity to exchange views on issues of mutual interest, such as developments in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Balkans and the security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

As regards in particular the security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the importance of avoiding destabilising, delinquent and revisionist actions contrary to international law and the principle of good neighbourliness was strongly underlined.

Important views were exchanged on the issue of the maximum possible use of EU defence initiatives and the coordination of the two countries in the context of actions resulting from the implementation of the recently adopted Strategic Compass, while at the same time current developments in the NATO framework were also discussed.

In addition, following the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries, bilateral defence cooperation issues were explored with a view to further deepening and broadening this cooperation against common threats and challenges, in a mutually beneficial way.

The consultations took place in a very warm climate and confirmed the strong bonds of friendship that unite the two countries.