Mitsotakis to meet with Biden and commemorate Greek War of Independence at White House

It has been a little less than two years since Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last visited the White House to meet with United States President Joe Biden. In May 2022, Biden greeted the prime minister wearing a tie with Greek flags.

Two years later, things are different: Mitsotakis won the national elections again and now faces the European elections. In contrast, Biden faces the presidential elections in November, where he will likely battle against leading Republican nominee Donald Trump.

This time, Mitsotakis will reportedly commemorate the anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire at the White House.

US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis publicly commented on the April 4 visit. However, the government said it has yet to receive an official invitation from Washington.

According to Proto Thema, Tsunis did not lie. In fact, Mitsotakis is expected back in Athens on April 5 for the conference of the ruling party, New Democracy, which will be held at Zappeion with high-ranking guests from abroad.

Proto Thema reported that Mitsotakis was clear that he would go to Washington if Biden invited him for a bilateral meeting.

“If we receive an invitation, we will respond,” Mitsotakis told reporters at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation on Wednesday when answering a question about whether the fact that the Americans are holding elections in November worries the Greek side regarding timing.

“I will certainly be here for the New Democracy conference,” added Mitsotakis, who did not confirm a date but did not deny the reports and, of course, what was publicly said by Tsunis.

The agenda

A Mitsotakis-Biden meeting also requires careful preparation, and Greek-American relations, which are at a historic high, will be discussed, but the exact content of this discussion remains to be seen.

Greek-Turkish issues will be addressed, given the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting immediately after Easter.

At the same time, developments in Ukraine and the Middle East will also be discussed, with Greece actively involved in the security of the Red Sea with the HYDRA frigate.

The timing of the meeting is interesting. Biden, who has an election to compete in November, wants support from the Greek community. Mitsotakis, who also has elections ahead of him, called for the active involvement of the diaspora through postal voting.

In general, Athens is following what is happening in Washington, given that Trump’s return to the American presidency next year cannot be ruled out.

In Egypt, on Sunday

Mitsotakis has an important trip to Egypt on Sunday, where he will have the opportunity to discuss with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in person. He will also be in Cairo with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

For the Europeans, it is extremely critical to support Egypt’s economy, which is faltering dangerously, especially in the context of Houthi attacks, which have reduced the passage of ships through the Suez Canal to a minimum.

That is why the Europeans are putting a package of 7.4 billion euros on the table, combined with the aid that Egypt will receive from the IMF.

However, according to Proto Thema, Egypt’s more active cooperation in immigration is also requested, given that the flows to Europe through North Africa have begun to multiply.