Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has issued a stark warning that the freedom to establish power and data connections via subsea cables is "non-negotiable."
His declaration came as he joined world leaders at a Mediterranean connectivity summit in Nice, underscoring the critical importance of these links for regional stability and economic growth.
Speaking at the conference, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr. Mitsotakis asserted that modern economies rely on electrical and digital interconnections as "vital arteries." He specifically highlighted two major subsea projects: the GREGY Interconnector, designed to link Egypt to Europe through Greece, and the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), which Mr. Mitsotakis described as "a critical link in the European energy market chain."
"These projects are not only essential for connectivity, they carry strategic weight for the European Union because they involve European companies in their development," Mr. Mitsotakis said.
He also reaffirmed Greece’s backing for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), describing Greece as the natural gateway for investment under that initiative.
Mr. Mitsotakis’s comments come as the European Union actively seeks to diversify its energy sources and strengthen digital and power grids across member states.
"Ensuring the freedom of subsea energy and data connections is fundamental," he said.