Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to the Maximos Mansion on Wednesday for talks covering the Middle East conflict, regional security and bilateral ties.
The meeting came against a backdrop of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with both leaders expressing concern over its effects on global trade, energy flows and regional stability.
The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation across trade, energy and connectivity, defense, agri-food products, culture and education — sectors that go well beyond the Qatari investment activity that has defined much of the relationship to date.
Hormuz, Lebanon and the Path to a Ceasefire
In their opening statements before the cameras, both leaders addressed the Iran- US war and the wider Middle East upheaval. Mitsotakis expressed Greece’s support for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and stressed the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He called for a durable diplomatic solution that ensures sustainable peace in the region, describing Greece as a force for stability and a reliable partner.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi)
The two leaders also discussed Lebanon, calling for continued support of the Lebanese government, preservation of the existing ceasefire and a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon that would stabilize the broader region.
Sheikh Tamim, whose country has played an active diplomatic role, said he hoped hostilities would end through negotiation. “We are watching every development,” he said. “We hope this conflict will end very soon through talks.”
A Partnership Built on Investment
Mitsotakis told the Emir that Greece has achieved the largest reduction in public debt as a share of GDP of any OECD member in history and continues to grow well above the eurozone average, making the case for Greece as an investment destination.
Sheikh Tamim said existing Qatari investments in Greece were performing well and that Doha was actively looking for further opportunities. The summit produced a Memorandum of Understanding in agriculture, signed between Greece’s Ministry of Rural Development and Food and Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality, covering food security and agricultural trade. Discussions also touched on infrastructure, data centers, energy and hospitality.
Defense Cooperation on the Agenda
One of the more notable dimensions of the meeting was an explicit commitment to deepen defense ties — a priority Sheikh Tamim himself raised, pointing to a shifting global security environment. “Given everything happening around the world, I believe it is very important to strengthen these bonds,” he said.
A Relationship on the Rise
In their public remarks, both leaders were cordial and unambiguously positive. Sheikh Tamim praised the performance of the Greek economy and let the history of the relationship speak for itself. “We have a great historic relationship,” he said, “and I am very proud to say we are very satisfied with it.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Michalis Karagiannis/Eurokinissi)
For Athens, the visit offered an opportunity to present itself as a serious interlocutor on Middle East affairs while advancing an economic relationship it is increasingly keen to deepen.
