German foreign minister heads to Greece for talks on defence ties, EU

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul set off for Greece on Monday for talks expected to focus on closer defence cooperation, deeper economic ties and the future enlargement of the European Union.

Wadephul was due to meet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens.

Securing the Strait of Hormuz after the hoped-for conclusion of a lasting ceasefire in the Iran war is also expected to play a role. Greece has one of the world's largest merchant fleets and is particularly affected by the blockade of the important waterway.

Before his departure, Wadephul praised Greece, a fellow EU and NATO partner, as a "strategic anchor" in south-eastern Europe, saying Berlin and Athens were moving closer together in an increasingly harsh world.

Wadephul also wants to deepen defence cooperation, including through joint procurement of military equipment and European financing.

Greece is upgrading its armed forces, cooperating particularly closely with France, the United States and Israel.

Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron recently extended a strategic cooperation agreement dating from 2021 for another five years. The agreement also includes a French security guarantee for Greece, with Mitsotakis describing the move as a "historic day."

During his one-day visit, Wadephul also plans to visit the Skaramangas shipyard, the largest shipyard in the eastern Mediterranean. German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems recently reached an agreement with the shipyard to modernize four submarines.

The talks are also expected to cover EU enlargement, with six Western Balkan countries and Ukraine seeking membership. Wadephul said they must be offered "credible prospects" of accession, adding that Greece would have a special role when it takes over the rotating EU Council presidency in the second half of 2027.