The two belonged in many ways to the same camp. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Emmanuel Macron they were first and foremost staunch supporters of the “non-dogmatic” doctrine of soft power. They were both supporters of the military autonomy of the European Union.
But also allies “in arms” with the signature, and while the Aegean was shadowed by the “Oruc Reis” crisis, the military assistance agreement, which was the first among NATO countries. And suddenly the slogan “Greece – France alliance”… froze! What exactly had happened?
No one would have noticed in the slightest, that there really was a coldness in the relations between Greece and France, if Macron’s MEPs had not voted in favor of the resolution condemning our country for the rule of law.
The second proof that something is afoot in Greek-French relations came a few days later, when Macron canceled his April 16 visit to Athens for both the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony and his participation in the Oceans Conference. While he had promised to be in Athens for the Olympic Flame, he preferred to campaign in the mountainous regions of France to stop, as he said, the increase in influence of the Far Right in the European elections.
The third proof came on April 26, when there were assurances from Paris that the Foreign Minister would attend Stéphane Cezournet at the ceremony for receiving the Olympic Flame. But Sejournay did not come, although he was expected in Athens in order to resolve certain “misunderstandings”. The excuse Céjournay found was none other than the European elections, the same excuse Macron found.
There are three versions of the “ice” in Greek-French relations. The first version, according to some information (which has not been denied, but not confirmed), had to do with Macron’s European ambitions. It is widely known that she faces problems with the Far Right, security, migration flows and various sources claim that she viewed her position favorably Ursula von der Leyen. That is, a decent “escape” (if that is the case) towards the European Union. It is even said that he confided his intention to European leaders, including Mr. Mitsotakiswho, however, together with Donald Tusk he supported Ursula’s re-election, which would surely displease Macron.
The second version concerns the recent Paris Conference on Ukraine, to which Macron invited many leaders. At this conference the French president is said to have asked for more military support to Ukraine, more weapons and ammunition, and even the sending of Western troops to Western Ukraine to train Ukrainians. A request that Mitsotakis rejected without discussion. According to the same information, the two leaders had agreed to visit Kiev together, but in the end the Greek prime minister went alone to Odessa.
The third version has to do with the Greek turn to the USA, as the French claim, in the armaments programs. The French must not have liked the purchase of the F-35s, the package of free US military aid worth $2 billion to Greece, the cancellation of the construction of yet another French Belh@rra, the non-purchase of French corvettes and the procurement of more Rafale .
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