Mr. President of the French Republic, ladies and gentlemen, ministers, friends. Athens welcomes today a timeless European ally and partner, but also a true friend of our homeland. And allow me to say, a personal friend of mine. At a moment I would characterize as pivotal, as it seals a historic choice made by our two countries in 2021: the decision for Greece and France to stand together, transforming a long-standing shared journey into a strong strategic alliance.
This is essentially the evolution of a multi-layered relationship, a substantial relationship with roots in the historical ties of our two nations, in the same principles and values, but also in the mutual interests of our peoples. Elements forged through our participation in both the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union, and increasingly, the results in the defense sector are more than visible.
I am particularly pleased, dear Emmanuel, that this morning we had the opportunity to visit the frigate Kimon, which has just returned after a 40-day stay off the coast of Cyprus. Two more Belharra frigates of the same type will be delivered in the coming months, the Nearchos and the Phormion, while the fourth, the Themistocles, will be delivered in 2028.
Furthermore, the capabilities of our Air Force have been substantially upgraded with the delivery and operational use of 24 Rafale fighter jets, as we saw them flying over Piraeus today. Of course, also through a multi-faceted alliance, to mention the agreement we signed today for the upgrade of the Mistral missiles.
All of these enhance our deterrent power and fortify both national and European borders. And it is no coincidence that in the recent crisis in the region, France rushed to reinforce the defense of Crete. I have very strong memories, dear Emmanuel, from our joint presence in Cyprus with President Christodoulides, because we demonstrated in this way that European solidarity is expressed through actions and not just words.
Moreover, I want to emphasize that this Greek-French alignment preceded all the recent significant geopolitical realignments. I would say it proved to be prudent and timely in the field of security and stability, and was in a way a forerunner of the broader need for strategic autonomy for our continent as a whole.
Something the two of us have been talking about for quite some time at the European Council, with common programs and co-productions, with operational interoperability. The frigates acquired by the Greek Navy and the frigates acquired by the French Navy are practically identical, but one navy learns from the other in the process of their respective upgrades.
And of course, the culmination of these agreements is the mutual assistance commitments. And I want to thank Emmanuel again, because he has so clearly and repeatedly stated that if Greece ever needs France's support, France will be present. And for this reason, today we are taking another important next step.
The declaration on the enhanced total strategic partnership between Greece and France, which we had the opportunity to sign a little while ago, reflects the breadth of our cooperation. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the ministries, but primarily the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which worked on the agreements we signed today.
The updated roadmap of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides a clear direction for our diplomatic alignment. At the same time, we are investing in the future with joint actions in education, while strengthening our cooperation in the intergovernmental organization Mercator Ocean International, a critical body for maritime knowledge and observation in strategic areas such as nuclear energy and technology for peaceful purposes.
Moreover, I recently had the opportunity to be in Paris for a very interesting conference organized by President Macron on this issue. And of course, a little while ago, the finance ministers inaugurated the technical support center of Euronext Athens, as the Athens Stock Exchange is now called. We are putting European integration into practice in the field of financial transactions.
And of course, in a little while, we will have the opportunity to speak at the very important Greek-French business forum, which is taking place right now as we speak. And all of this declares our desire, Greece and France, France and Greece, to walk together on the path of 21st-century Europe, ensuring conditions of prosperity and security for the present, but also opening a horizon of hope for future generations.
And indeed, this vision occupied us yesterday in the discussion we had at the Roman Agora, a center of public life in antiquity that continues today to cultivate fruitful dialogue and critical thinking, especially truth in the face of the era of fake news, dialogue in the time of slogans, and personal responsibility in the era of anonymous digital propaganda.
Dear Emmanuel, when the fundamental principles of the post-war order are tested, the response of democracies must be united, fearless, and decisive. Therefore, first and foremost, Europe itself, on whose soil war has unfortunately returned for four years, is called upon to strengthen its autonomy at all levels, because only in this way can it navigate with certainty through the turbulent waters of an uncertain world.
And I want to thank the French President, because with truly great persistence, he places the issue of Europe's strategic autonomy in all its dimensions at the forefront of discussions at the European Council. I believe that our common defense will also strengthen our alliance, NATO, and that member states of Europe are now necessarily taking greater responsibility for the protection of our common interests and borders.
Noting that developments in the North, in the East, but also in the South here in the Southeastern Mediterranean directly affect the security of all of Europe, and for this reason, a far-sighted, genuine European policy is required. However, we know well that we cannot have strategic autonomy without a competitive Europe, and without competition, there is no growth and prosperity.
For this reason, the agenda for enhancing competitiveness in areas such as reducing bureaucratic burden and cheap energy will be at the center of our discussions in the coming months, culminating in the negotiation for the new multi-annual financial framework, which we hope will be completed by the end of 2026.
We also had the opportunity to discuss developments in the Middle East. Greece is, like France, a reliable interlocutor, a force for stability. We both played our role discreetly in the ceasefire and dialogue between Israel and Lebanon, a very important development that must be strengthened.
We both have the same interest in the protection of all religious communities, especially Christians in the region, who are not just a minority but an integral part of its historical identity. We have the same interest in upholding the freedom of navigation based on international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
And as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, we placed this issue as a matter of utmost importance, an issue that Europe as a whole must embrace. And in the same direction, we are obviously moving in view of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027.
We are ready to contribute to the shaping of all those policies that give impetus to a strong, democratic Europe, with a real role in geopolitical developments, which knows and can defend its values and its member states. A Europe of its citizens, a child ultimately of both Greek and French culture, a child of ancient Athenian democracy, but also a child of the European Enlightenment.
Dear Emmanuel, I conclude by reminding you that by designing the future, we also honor the past. And these days, at the Xenokratic Museum of Messolonghi, the painting by K. K. Kraze, 'Greece at the Ruins of Messolonghi,' is being exhibited. It is a work that was lent by the Museum of Fine Arts of Bordeaux, and I would say it is a moving testament to the bonds between our peoples, even before the independent Greek state was established.
The birth of which, let us not forget, was warmly supported by the French people. And we, by honoring and continuing such a historic tradition of peace and cooperation, I believe that is exactly what we did today again. Welcome, Emmanuel.
