Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he will use its United Nations Security Council presidency in October to push diplomatically for a return to free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, opening the Posidonia 2026 maritime exhibition.
Mr. Mitsotakis told hundreds of shipping industry leaders at the Athens Metropolitan Expo that the Greek-owned merchant fleet -the largest in the European Union -is a strategic asset guaranteeing Europe's economic autonomy.
"The heart of global seafaring beats firmly in Greece," he said. "The international climate underscores the geostrategic value of shipping more than ever."
Mr. Mitsotakis also highlighted Greece's deployment of the navy frigate Psara in the Red Sea as part of the EU's Aspides mission, equipped with the Kentavros anti-drone system — a concrete operational commitment to the freedom of navigation principles he outlined in his remarks.
Melina Travlos, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, thanked the prime minister for recognizing the shipping industry's role in both domestic and international economic stability.
Mr. Mitsotakis said the green transition in shipping is necessary but must not compromise the industry's competitiveness.
Posidonia 2026 runs through June 5. The biennial trade forum opens this year amid the partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran -a disruption that has already affected Greek-operated tankers and drawn ECB warnings about a potential second European inflation wave.