NATO is urging Greece to transfer Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine to strengthen its air defenses against Russia’s invasion. The potential deal, facilitated through intermediaries like France or Germany, aligns with NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, allowing Greece to replace donated jets with newer U.S. systems. A decision may be reached before the November NATO summit.
Tag: France
Europe is bracing for major travel disruptions in early October due to strikes across Greece, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Travelers should prepare for cancellations and delays.
During the 80th UN General Assembly, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis advocated for the recognition of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, to be achieved through a UN-led political process. Highlighting Greece’s role in the UN Security Council and its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, he emphasized the nation’s commitment to diplomacy and a two-state solution at a conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
Greece’s Security Council (KYSEA) has approved the purchase of a fourth Belharra frigate from France, further bolstering its defense capabilities amid rising tensions with Turkey over territorial waters in the Aegean Sea.
Lesvos is targeting French tourists to boost year-round tourism by highlighting its cultural heritage, natural beauty, and unique events. Initiatives include a “Camus House” to honor philosopher Albert Camus and a new open-air cinema for events like the French Film Festival, aiming to strengthen cultural ties and drive sustainable growth.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a powerful message on Greece’s economic and political stability…
The Greek men’s national basketball team soared to 4th in the FIBA power rankings, up four spots, after strong friendly match performances ahead of EuroBasket 2025. Serbia, Germany, and France lead the rankings, while Slovenia, led by Luka Dončić, dropped to 11th.
With EuroBasket 2025 approaching, Greece’s national basketball team has dropped to sixth in FIBA’s latest power rankings, falling two spots from fourth. As Serbia, Germany, and France lead as favorites, the Greek squad, now complete with Giannis Antetokounmpo, prepares for friendlies in Greece and Cyprus. The team faces a tough group stage in Limassol against Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Georgia, and Bosnia, aiming to secure a top-four spot to advance.
Greece’s women’s water polo team crushed France 23-9, advancing to the World Aquatics Championships quarterfinals to face Australia. Foteini Tricha led with five goals, supported by Eleftheria Plevritou (four) and Vasiliki Plevritou (three), as Greece maintained their quarterfinal streak since 2003.
The European Commission has launched a privacy-focused age verification app to protect children from harmful online content, with Greece among the first EU countries to test it. The app aligns with the Digital Services Act and future digital identity systems, while Australia is also adopting similar measures.
Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis predicts Greece will no longer be the EU’s most indebted nation by 2029, citing 2.3% growth and strengthened Greece-France defense ties.
France leads with 3,072,728 Schengen visa applications in 2024, followed by Spain (1,634,887), Germany (1,512,675), and Italy (1,233,316), according to SchengenVisaInfo. The top 10 list highlights strong travel demand to Western and Southern Europe.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou survived another no-confidence motion in parliament on Tuesday, as lawmakers…
Greece plans to acquire next-generation submarines as part of a 25-billion-euro defense modernization, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced, aiming to bolster naval strength in the Aegean and Mediterranean.
Europe, the world’s cultural gem, is buckling under a record-breaking tourism surge, with 747 million visitors last year overwhelming its iconic destinations. Greece, hosting nearly four times its population, faces water and housing shortages on islands like Santorini and Mykonos. As locals protest and resources strain, governments scramble with measures like cruise taxes and rental restrictions to balance tourism’s boon with preserving local life.
Türkiye secured a Quarter-Finals spot at FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 with an 83-72 victory over Greece in front of a record 10,503 fans in Piraeus. Tilbe Senyurek and Tearia McCowan led Türkiye, while Artemis Spanou stood out for Greece. Earlier, France set a 49-year record, defeating Switzerland 111-37.
Greece is transforming its naval capabilities with a fleet of twelve advanced frigates, including eight state-of-the-art Belharra and FREMM vessels, establishing maritime dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean. Upgraded MEKO frigates and strategic partnerships with France and Italy further bolster Greece’s deterrent power, outmatching Turkey’s fleet.
323 European firefighters are set to be prepositioned in Greece during the peak fire season,…
Planning a trip to Greece, France, Portugal, Spain, or Turkey? The GCT Travel Team provides the latest travel guidelines, including visa-free stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period for most destinations, with special requirements like Portugal’s authorization letter for minors and Turkey’s passport validity rule. Discover the best experiences, from Santorini’s sunsets to Cappadocia’s hot air balloon rides.
Greece saw a record-breaking 40.7 million international visitors in 2024, with tourism revenues reaching €21.6 billion, a 4.8% increase from the previous year. The country’s top regions for tourism were Attica and the South Aegean, while EU27 residents contributed the largest share of total receipts. Notably, the United States saw a significant rise in tourist spending, while revenues from Russia fell sharply. These results highlight Greece’s enduring appeal as a premier global destination and the vital role tourism plays in its economy.
A massive power outage has paralyzed Spain and Portugal, plunging cities like Madrid and Lisbon into chaos. Traffic lights are down, metro systems are evacuated, and airports are in disarray, with thousands of stranded passengers awaiting answers. Spain’s Red Eléctrica is scrambling to restore power, but no official cause has been disclosed. As the blackout disrupts trains, businesses, and even the Madrid Open tennis tournament, governments face mounting pressure to address the crisis.
Klavdia Papadhópoulos will represent Greece at Eurovision 2025 with her powerful song Asteromáta, a tribute to those forced to leave their homelands. The 23-year-old, who rose to fame on The Voice of Greece, aims to inspire with a message of hope. Meanwhile, France’s Louane will perform Maman, a heartfelt ode to motherhood, at the contest in Basel, Switzerland, from May 13–17, 2025.
Greece will acquire a fourth Belharra frigate, as announced by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, who will propose the purchase to KYSEA. During a visit by French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu, a contract for 16 Exocet missiles was signed.
French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens to reaffirm the deepening strategic defence ties between Greece and France. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, enhancing European defence capabilities, and supporting the EU’s push for strategic autonomy through initiatives like the ReArm plan.
Greece signed a deal on April 14, 2025, to acquire anti-ship missiles from France, with the agreement formalized in Athens by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu
This negotiation with Italy is part of the country’s broader efforts to upgrade its military capabilities.
In 2023, EU governments allocated €227 billion to defence, representing 2.7% of total expenditure and 1.3% of GDP. Greece ranked among the top spenders, dedicating 2.2% of its GDP to defence, following Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The increase in defence budgets across the EU reflects a growing focus on security amid geopolitical tensions.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis participated in a high-level quadrilateral summit in Paris, addressing regional security, migration, and energy cooperation alongside leaders from France, Cyprus, and Lebanon.
The UK has issued a travel warning as Spain, Greece, France, and other EU nations prepare to launch the Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, following a revised timeline set by EU Home Affairs Ministers on March 5, 2025. British travelers will face biometric registration—fingerprints and facial scans—potentially causing delays at borders. With a six-month phased rollout and ETIAS to follow in late 2026, UK holidaymakers are urged to plan for new procedures and longer wait times.
Türkiye is negotiating to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets and 400 Meteor air-to-air missiles in a potential €8 billion deal, with the U.K. leading the offer and Germany’s objections fading. Focus has shifted to the missile package, despite France’s limited influence to block the sale.
