The recent Athens Policy Dialogues brought together policymakers, think-tankers, and journalists from Greece, Europe, and the wider Middle East to discuss pressing regional issues. However, observers noted a conspicuous gap in the discussions: insufficient recognition of the rapidly strengthening Saudi-Greek strategic partnership.
Writing for Arab News, Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas argued that while Greece praised its long-standing relationship with Israel during the conference, it missed an opportunity to highlight the importance of improving Saudi-Greek ties. "Riyadh is not Mediterranean, but is closer to Greece than many assume," Abbas noted, adding that "neither Saudi Arabia nor the US are part of the Eastern Mediterranean. Still, there was barely a session that did not mention both or either country one way or another."
The two-day event, which featured speakers from Egypt, Israel, and Türkiye, focused significantly on recent events in Gaza and the subsequent Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit. Konstantinos Tasoulas, president of the Hellenic Republic, acknowledged in his opening remarks that "Greece, due to its position on the frontline of developments, even if it had wanted to, it could not remain outside the storms that shook the region."
While Tasoulas praised Athens' strategic relationship with Israel, he did not echo sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Saudi Arabia just 11 months prior, when Mitsotakis declared the Kingdom "a strategic partner for Greece and the EU, and a key player for stability and prosperity in the entire region."
The Saudi-Greek relationship has been bolstered by the alignment of Vision 2030 and Greece's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Greece 2.0). During Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 2022 visit to Athens, he described the partnership as a "game-changer," announcing projects such as the East to Med data corridor.
Abbas emphasized Saudi Arabia's proven diplomatic track record, noting how the Kingdom has maintained strong ties with Washington while developing relationships with China, Russia, and even Iran — all of which have contributed to regional de-escalation and stability.
The article also highlighted recent Saudi-American coordination that has led to significant regional developments, including lifting sanctions on Syria, transforming Damascus from adversary to coalition partner against Daesh, and encouraging Washington's intervention to address the Sudan conflict.
Abbas suggested Greece could play a meaningful role in regional peace efforts, noting the country possesses "exceptional soft power and no colonial history in the Arab world." He proposed Greece could potentially join an International Stabilization Force and leverage its proximity to Israel to encourage adherence to a two-state solution.
The piece concluded by emphasizing that Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is inherently outward-facing and relies heavily on strategic partners "to help build not only cities, World Cup venues, and Expo 2030 landmarks, but more importantly, an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous region."
The Athens Policy Dialogues served as a reminder that paths between Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Gulf remain deeply intertwined — now more than ever.
Photo: Gemini AI