George Gerapetritis at the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting: New Challenges for the Alliance and Athens' Agenda

With rapid developments at the crucial crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Russia escalating its war against Ukraine, and Donald Trump's looming return to the US presidency presenting a significant challenge, NATO foreign ministers arrive at the Brussels summit with a mix of expectations, reservations, and deep concerns. These concerns revolve around the future shape of the Western security system and the very future of the Alliance itself.

Ukraine will top the agenda of the 32 member states. NATO faces its most challenging moment yet as Kyiv struggles under Russian missile attacks. The Alliance must reaffirm its support for Ukrainian defense while maintaining its cohesion, even as voices within and beyond Europe increasingly call on President Zelenskyy to negotiate, potentially involving concessions on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister and the new EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, will attend the Brussels summit.

These developments unfold against the backdrop of Donald Trump's impending return to power. Beyond his belief that he can "end the war in a day," Trump is expected to pressure Europeans to shoulder a greater share of the financial and military burden of supporting Kyiv, and more broadly, to increase their defense spending. The Brussels summit will be the first for the new NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg (Note: The original text incorrectly states Mark Rutte), who hopes that NATO will remain united and cohesive, and that the United States will continue to be the active core of the Western alliance.

On the second day of the summit, NATO's major strategic challenges will be examined. The Greek Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, is expected to emphasize the relationship between NATO and the European Union. Greece is among the member states promoting stronger European defense autonomy, aiming to create a Europe capable of addressing the new geopolitical environment and complementing NATO's defense capabilities. As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated alongside Jens Stoltenberg, the Greek government has submitted concrete proposals to Brussels concerning the strengthening of the European defense industry and the creation of a European missile defense shield.

Mr. Gerapetritis will also address issues concerning the Southern Neighborhood. Athens emphasizes that the Middle East, North Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean are regions directly related to Greece's security and influence its foreign policy on several issues, including migration. Recent developments and the resurgence of the Syrian civil war are causing understandable concern in Athens. A new wave of refugees toward Turkey could lead to increased flows towards Greece. Diplomatic sources in Athens reiterate the need for continued communication and on-the-ground cooperation with Turkey on migration. Migration is also expected to be a key topic in the next round of political dialogue between Greece and Turkey, scheduled for December 3rd in Athens, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou and her Turkish counterpart. The Greek Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring developments in Syria, as reportedly 50 Greek families live in Aleppo and may require assistance. They are currently in contact with the Greek embassy in Damascus, which continues to operate.

During his intervention at the NATO summit, Mr. Gerapetritis will highlight Greece as a force consistently promoting stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean. He will also emphasize Greece's enhanced role in international diplomacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

A potential meeting between Mr. Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Brussels or at the OSCE summit in Malta on December 4-5, has not yet been confirmed. Mr. Fidan has been in constant contact with his counterparts from all sides involved in the Syrian conflict, making scheduling difficult. However, both ministers are reportedly ready to meet to define the next steps in the dialogue, despite recent tensions related to the Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection project and increasingly provocative Turkish rhetoric.

Given the rapidly evolving situation, any meeting between the two ministers, especially if it occurs on the sidelines of the NATO summit, will likely be brief. It is expected to focus on reaffirming the commitment to maintaining open communication channels to de-escalate tensions, and on planning the next High-Level Cooperation Council meeting in Ankara. This meeting, where Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are expected to meet for the seventh time, appears to be postponed. Diplomatic sources suggest it may take place in late January or early February. Regarding the joint Greece-Turkey candidacy for the OSCE, with Ms. Telalian and Mr. Sinirlioğlu, a few important details remain to be finalized to achieve the necessary consensus at the OSCE summit.

Finally, Mr. Gerapetritis will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart in Brussels. His talks with Greek MEPs on Tuesday afternoon at the Greek Permanent Representation in Brussels are also anticipated with interest.