Athens is preparing an ambitious diplomatic initiative aimed at fostering regional cooperation and dialogue among Eastern Mediterranean states.
The Greek government plans to host a multilateral meeting involving Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, and Libya to discuss key issues such as maritime boundaries, migration, civil protection, marine environment preservation, and regional connectivity.
During his speech in Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced Greece’s intention to invite all coastal states of the region to a joint forum. “Greece seeks understanding with all its neighbors—guided by legality and, above all, by the Law of the Sea. Our goal is to sit together and address all the issues that concern us,” Mitsotakis stated.
According to government sources, the proposed 5×5 Multilateral Scheme will include five countries—Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, and Libya—and five thematic areas: migration, environmental protection, connectivity, maritime delimitation, and civil protection.
“The Greek government has nothing to fear from sitting at the same table with anyone,” the Prime Minister emphasized, “always defending our positions based on international law and the Law of the Sea.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now expected to initiate exploratory contacts to assess the feasibility and potential long-term framework of this regional forum.
“Greece is a pillar of stability and security in Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean,” government sources said. “With confidence, strong diplomacy, a robust economy, and capable armed forces, our country not only has no fear—it actively seeks cooperation with all neighboring states.”
The diplomatic momentum follows Mitsotakis’ recent meeting in New York with Massad Boulos, Lebanese-American businessman and in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Boulos, appointed by Trump as a special adviser to the State Department for Arab and African affairs, is reportedly promoting efforts to bring together the key regional players—Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and Libya—to address disputes over maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean.
