RIYADH — Greece has very good relations with Saudi Arabia because they share geopolitical challenges, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told journalist John Defterios in a chat at the 5th Future Investment Initiative taking place in Riyadh.

Mitsotakis said the the East Mediterranean is a region of common interest, and Greece a pillar of stability in the region. He also spoke of the energy crisis in Europe and options of alternative sources of electricity. For example, he noted, “If the Gulf region can produce cheap electricity, we are interested in conveying it to Europe through Greece, as a transit country.”

The Greek premier said he was happy to see many young Greeks working in the Gulf region. He also expressed the hope that “at some point, Turkey will work constructively with us to resove the single outstanding issue, the delimitation of marine zones.”

Mitsotakis meets with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain

The prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation between their two countries in investments and tourism were discussed on Tuesday, during a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, at a meeting held on the margins of Mitsotakis’ official visit to Saudi Arabia.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues, as well as the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mitsotakis referred to Greece’s strategic partnership agreement for defence and security cooperation with France, as well the five-year extension of the Greek-US Mutual Defense and Cooperation Agreement.

The two leaders each invited the other to visit their respective country.

Earlier, Mitsotakis met with enterpreneurs from Saudi Arabia who would like to invest in Greece and also had meetings with representatives of Greek companies that either operate or would like to operate in Saudi Arabia. Afterwards, he met with three airforce officers who are serving as liaisons for the transfer and installation of Patriot missiles that Greece has offered to Saudi Arabia to strengthen its defence.

Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis, the head of prime minister’s diplomatic office Ambassador Eleni Sourani, the head of the prime minister’s economice office Alexis Patelis and alternate government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni attended the meeting.