“The safety of our sailors and our ships, as well as unobstructed sailing, are goods that are non-negotiable for Greece,” Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stressed on Thursday, during joint statements with visiting Foreign Minister of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan, in Athens.
He stressed that both Greece and Singapore both attach great importance to having free seas. He also noted that the war’s repercussions on freedom of navigation, supply chains and energy security “have already become visible and are a major wager in the coming period”.
“Greece’s geography and naval tradition have made maritime security an integral part of our national strategy,” Gerapetritis pointed out, noting that he would later be taking part in an online video conference set up by the United Kingdom with extensive international participation over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
He noted that Greece and Singapore are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations this year and that the “anniversary visit” by his counterpart confirmed their joint desire to further deepen and expand cooperation between the two countries.
“Our countries support international multilateralism, international law, especially the law of the sea, the international protection of human rights and the Charter of the United Nations,” Gerapetritis said. He stressed that the values and principles on which the post-war world was built could not and should not be now abandoned.
“We call upon all parties for an immediate de-escalation and the maximum possible restraint. Respect for international law must be universal and the tribulations of civilians must cease,” he stressed.
“Diplomacy, not war, is the path that is essential if we are to achieve a sustainable peace in the region,” he noted.
Gerapetritis emphasized that Greece expresses its solidarity with allied countries in the region affected by the conflict and that Greece is in favour of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, expressing its full support for its government and people.
During Balakrishnan’s visit, the two countries agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordinate their actions in order to jointly develop initiatives for international shipping, including within the International Maritime Organization.
They also discussed significant prospects for deepening cooperation in key sectors such as green energy, high technology, innovation, energy transition, as well as two-way tourism flows.
Within the framework of cooperation in the European Union,”we actively support the full utilization of the opportunities offered by the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Singapore,” Gerapetritis said.
They also discussed Singapore’s assumption of the Presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2027, which coincides with Greece’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027. “This provides a unique opportunity to coordinate and upgrade relations between the two major international organizations into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” the Greek minister noted.
“In today’s constantly changing geopolitical environment, cooperation between states that share common perspectives – such as Singapore and Greece – is even more necessary. Despite the geographical distance, we converge on key issues; we share common concerns, principles, and values, and we operate on the basis of fundamental rules – those of international law and multilateralism,” he concluded.
Singapore Foreign Minister: We believe in the importance of international law and the principles of the United Nations
“We believe in the importance of international law and the principles of the United Nations,” Singapore’s foreign minister said.
“In a time of flux, an era of globalization and free trade, the rule of law is under pressure,” he stressed, adding that “ it is important for Greece and Singapore, which believe in respect for international law, to cooperate in promoting that respect.”
All sides must come to the negotiating table, he added, expressing hope that hostilities will cease so that stability can return to the straits, while noting that it was not only the Strait of Hormuz that is important, but also the Strait of Malacca in Malaysia.
“Freedom of navigation is a right; it is not something that states can treat as a favor,” he underlined. “Even amid war, it is worth reaffirming this right. Greece, as a member of the Security Council, is in a very important position. That is why we reaffirm our support for Greece,” he said.
