Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis travels to Madrid on Tuesday, February 3, for talks with Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares Bueno, as the European Union seeks to recalibrate its strategic direction amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.
The meeting, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., comes at a time when the EU is striving to strengthen both its competitiveness and defense autonomy in response to shifting global power dynamics. Against this backdrop, the two ministers are expected to review bilateral ties, with particular emphasis on economic cooperation, while also discussing the future of the European Union, including enlargement prospects.
Regional crises will also feature prominently on the agenda, notably developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, amid rising tensions fueled by the prospect of renewed U.S. involvement in Iran.
Greece and Spain, both southern European nations and longstanding NATO allies, face similar challenges in areas such as competitiveness, security, and migration management, albeit with differing national priorities. Diplomatic contacts between the two countries have intensified in recent months.
The two foreign ministers last met in Athens in June, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Madrid several weeks ago for talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Felipe VI.
Athens and Madrid broadly agree on accelerating European defense autonomy so the EU can play a stronger role in the evolving Western security architecture, particularly as the United States shows signs of strategic retrenchment.
The two ministers are also expected to reaffirm commitment to the UN Charter and international law, especially the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, amid wider debates over territorial claims and security guarantees, including tensions surrounding Greenland, a Danish territory within both the EU and NATO.
Greece and Spain are also contributing to post-ceasefire stabilization efforts in Gaza through their participation in the U.S.-led Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which supports implementation and coordination on the ground.
Amid these discussions, Athens continues to closely monitor Spain’s deepening defense cooperation with Turkey. Madrid has emerged as one of Ankara’s key European defense partners, with the two countries engaging in major defense contracts and technology cooperation. Spain also supports Turkey’s closer integration into Europe’s evolving security architecture.
