Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said ahead of Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels that he would brief his European counterparts on the discovery of an unmanned maritime drone near the island of Lefkada, describing the incident as a matter of serious concern for regional security and freedom of navigation in the Mediterranean.
Speaking before the meeting on May 11, Gerapetritis outlined the key issues on the Council’s agenda, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as developments in the Western Balkans. He noted that Greece remained actively engaged in diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting stability in the wider Middle East, stressing that Athens continued to play a leading role through its strong alliances and regional partnerships.
He also underlined Greece’s consistent position on safeguarding free navigation, saying the country was prepared to coordinate with allies and partners on any necessary actions to ensure maritime security.
On the Western Balkans, Gerapetritis referred to the recent Delphi Declaration, which Greece initiated and which was signed several weeks ago. He said the initiative strengthened efforts toward EU enlargement, with Athens aiming to advance the process further during the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027.
Turning to the incident in the Ionian Sea, the foreign minister described the appearance of the unmanned vessel as an “extremely serious development.” He said an investigation by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff was currently underway and noted that the Greek government would respond with the appropriate diplomatic steps once the inquiry and technical assessment had been completed.
Gerapetritis further stressed that Greece would not allow military activity to spread into the broader Mediterranean region or threaten its territory. According to him, such incidents posed significant risks not only to freedom of navigation, but also to civilian safety and the marine environment. He added that Greece would take all necessary measures to ensure the Mediterranean did not become a theater of military operations.
