Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged a "fully transparent" investigation into a deadly migrant boat collision off Chios, moving to address the tragedy just days before a high-stakes summit in Turkey.
In an interview with Foreign Policy, Mr. Mitsotakis defended the Greek Coast Guard’s record but promised strict accountability regarding the Tuesday night crash between a patrol vessel and a smuggler's speedboat that left 15 people dead.
"I commit that the investigation will be conducted with full transparency," Mr. Mitsotakis said.
He described the incident as a tragedy caused by smugglers operating unseaworthy vessels, while reiterating his administration's "tough but fair" policy on asylum and deportation.
The pledge comes as the Prime Minister prepares to travel to Ankara on Feb. 11 to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Despite the flare-up in the Aegean, Mr. Mitsotakis signaled a desire for stability, emphasizing that the neighbors’ sole legal dispute concerns maritime zones.
"Geography is not going to change," Mr. Mitsotakis noted, pointing to successful confidence-building measures like the express visa program for Turkish tourists.
Addressing energy security, Mr. Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s pivot to becoming a regional hub, citing the "Vertical Corridor" gas infrastructure project and ongoing exploration partnerships with U.S. energy giants Chevron and Exxon.