Arriving at the informal EU Foreign Affairs Council (“Gymnich”) in Limassol, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis underscored the need for solidarity among the Union’s 27 member states amid escalating global instability, pointing to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, Russia’s war in Ukraine, signals of uncertainty emanating from the United States, and continued Turkish threats against Greece and Cyprus.
Gerapetritis stressed that the current international environment—marked by multiple overlapping crises and growing hostility—has made it imperative for the EU to advance its strategic autonomy. He argued that this autonomy should be understood not only in terms of competitiveness, but also cohesion, convergence, resilience in both energy and defence, and above all, solidarity among member states to strengthen the Union’s collective weight and global standing.
He further highlighted the need for what he described as a “360-degree” European foreign policy approach, one that takes into account global dynamics in their entirety, with particular attention to the Global South. In this context, he noted the significance of engaging with key partners such as Saudi Arabia and India, with which Greece maintains strategic relations.
Referring to ongoing international conflicts, he emphasised that adherence to international law must remain universal and non-negotiable, adding that any attacks on civilian populations or critical infrastructure are unacceptable. Against this backdrop, and amid reports that Turkey may soon advance legislation seeking to codify the so-called “Blue Homeland” doctrine, he called for a unified and firm European stance against any form of revisionism.
Such revisionist approaches, he warned, risk deepening global instability and generating broader tensions that ultimately harm citizens worldwide, particularly in an already fragile geopolitical environment.
The meeting, held under the chairmanship of EU High Representative Kaja Kallas alongside Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, also brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and India. Discussions will focus on developments in the wider Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the EU’s evolving security strategy.
