Mitsotakis at the UN: Demand for Turkey to Respect International Law; Economy, Energy and AI on the Agenda

At the UN General Assembly Kyriakos Mitsotakis set clear conditions for talks with Turkey: any dialogue must be grounded in International Law and good-neighborly relations. He singled out the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the sole institutional framework for resolving the long-standing maritime dispute over the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The prime minister emphasized the Cyprus issue as a test for the UN's credibility. He noted that 52 years after the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of part of Cyprus, reunification talks remain a priority and he expressed support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts to resume substantive negotiations.

Energy and maritime security were prominent. Mitsotakis framed Greece as a bridge between Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, using new connectivity and energy infrastructure to strengthen that role. Two US energy companies were highlighted:

• ExxonMobil is approaching Greece's first exploratory gas drilling in nearly 40 years, targeting Block 2 in the northwestern Ionian Sea with plans for spring 2027.
• Chevron is moving ahead with seismic surveys expected before the end of 2026 in the Ionian Sea and in offshore areas south of the Peloponnese and Crete.

Greece's broader energy plan includes US liquefied natural gas via the Vertical Corridor to boost the country's role as an energy gateway to the Balkans and the wider region.

Mitsotakis presented recent economic performance and reforms as reinforcing Greece's international credibility. He highlighted growth, investment, fiscal performance, public debt reduction and digital transformation of the state. He stressed fiscal discipline will be maintained regardless of electoral cycles, stating: "We will remain, at any cost, committed to fiscal discipline."

Global crises and maritime security

The speech also covered major crises: the wars in Ukraine, the hostilities in Gaza, and instability in Lebanon, Syria, Libya and Sudan. Mitsotakis connected Greece's maritime-security role to global transport and energy, arguing regional volatility has direct international consequences.

Artificial Intelligence: call for international rules

Mitsotakis warned that self-regulation by companies is not enough and pushed for international regulation of Artificial Intelligence. He framed this as a global governance challenge requiring coordinated rules rather than fragmented private controls.

The address reinforced Athens' negotiating line with Ankara: willingness to talk, conditioned on legal frameworks and respect for sovereignty. At the same time, the speech sought to project stability through economic reforms and evolving energy projects that could reshape Greek influence across the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.