Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has arrived in Abu Dhabi as the first European Union leader to visit the Gulf region following fresh Iranian military strikes against Emirati infrastructure, using the unscheduled visit to express solidarity and push for a diplomatic resolution to the deepening Middle East crisis.
In talks at the presidential palace with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mr. Mitsotakis condemned the Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure without qualification. "Athens stands in full solidarity with Abu Dhabi," he said, calling for a diplomatic path to restore long-term stability and security across the region.
Both leaders underscored their commitment to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under international law — a priority that carries particular weight for Greece as the world's largest shipping nation and for the UAE as a major oil exporter dependent on unimpeded maritime access.
The visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Greece and the UAE.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in artificial intelligence and technology, further deepening a comprehensive strategic partnership that has expanded significantly in recent years.
Mr. Mitsotakis departed Abu Dhabi for Amman, Jordan, where he is due to participate in a tripartite Greece-Cyprus-Jordan summit on Wednesday.
The back-to-back engagements reinforce Athens' positioning as an active diplomatic broker in the Middle East — a role Greek officials have been carefully cultivating through sustained engagement with Gulf states, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon amid the ongoing regional conflict.