Greece’s former leftist prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has strongly criticized the conservative government’s foreign policy, urging an immediate shift in strategy to protect the country’s sovereign rights and restore its position as a pillar of peace and stability in the region.
In a comprehensive article published on the Alexis Tsipras Institute website on Friday, the ex-SYRIZA leader says that “the country cannot continue to navigate without a national compass,” calling on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to step down. He warns that Mitsotakis’ refusal to do so is a risk to “national integrity.”
The article, published a day after a critical EU summit on Ukraine and European defense, offers a pointed critique of both European and Greek policy towards the Ukraine crisis, as well as broader international issues. Tsipras also outlines several immediate actions that Greece should take to realign its foreign policy.
One of Tsipras’ primary recommendations is to re-evaluate Greece’s relationship with the United States. He argues that the current strategic cooperation, based on Greece’s status as a “willing ally,” should be shifted to a framework built on “mutual respect and benefit.”
Tsipras further calls for Greece’s active participation in European defense initiatives and peace negotiations concerning Ukraine. He stresses the importance of Greece working closely with Cyprus to set “strict conditions” for any future EU cooperation with Turkey on defense matters, including the removal of the “casus belli” (threat of war) and addressing the Cyprus issue.
He also advocates for the restoration of diplomatic channels with Russia, acknowledging the importance of engaging with key global players.
Additionally, the ex-PM urges Greece to push for the EU to condition any negotiations with Turkey on the revision of the customs union agreement to the initiation of legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the delimitation of continental shelf and exclusive economic zones (EEZ).
In another key proposal, Tsipras emphasizes the need for Greece to take decisive action to expand its territorial waters in the Eastern Mediterranean and establish clear maritime boundaries with neighboring countries.
He also suggests convening an EU-Eastern Mediterranean conference, where Greece, in coordination with Cyprus and other southern European nations, would promote its positions on key regional issues, including Greek-Turkish relations, the Palestinian question, and the crises in Syria and Libya.
In relation to the Cyprus issue, Tsipras advocates for closer cooperation with Cyprus to pursue “a just and sustainable solution based on UN resolutions and the Guterres framework.” This approach should also take into account potential political developments following upcoming elections in the Turkish-occupied territories.
Tsipras further stresses the need to reinvigorate multilateral cooperation in the Balkans, with an emphasis on restoring Greece’s “leadership role in the region.”
To strengthen Greece’s global position, the former premier proposes the development of a new action plan to enhance its relationships with countries in the Global South, focusing on economic and cultural collaboration.
Lastly, Tsipras highlights the immediate need to rebuild and strengthen Greece’s national defense industry, which he claims is currently “in a state of disrepair.”
In his concluding remarks, Tsipras criticizes Mitsotakis for remaining in power despite widespread public protests against the government’s handling of the 2023 Tempe train disaster. He warns that Mitsotakis’ refusal to step down risks not only plunging the government and the ruling New Democracy party into crisis but also endangering the country’s stability.
“What is at stake with the continued presence of the government and its policies is, unfortunately, not only political, economic, and social stability, but also national integrity,” he says.