Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Friday that the electricity cable linking Greece and Cyprus “can and must proceed” without concessions on Greece’s sovereign rights, backing a project with direct implications for the island’s energy supply.
Speaking to SKAI radio, Mitsotakis declined to discuss the practical details of how work would move forward, describing the issue as sensitive. But his message was clear: Athens believes there is a way to deliver the project without compromising its rights at sea.
Mitsotakis said the United States supports such connections, noting that the cable could eventually extend to Israel. “This is no longer a Greek-Cypriot project; it is a European project,” he said.
For households and businesses here, the Great Sea Interconnector is about more than regional diplomacy. Cyprus remains disconnected from the European electricity grid. The proposed undersea link would allow electricity to flow between Crete and Cyprus, providing another source of supply and supporting greater use of renewable energy. The European Commission says the project aims to improve supply security and make wholesale electricity prices more competitive. That is an aim, rather than a guarantee of cheaper household bills.
Mitsotakis said the United States supports such connections, noting that the cable could eventually extend to Israel.
“This is no longer a Greek-Cypriot project; it is a European project,” he said.
He also said survey work carried out near the Greek island of Kasos had taken place exclusively within territorial waters.
His comments offered political backing, but he did not announce a construction timetable or explain how the sensitive operational issues would be resolved.
Asked about relations with Turkey, Mitsotakis borrowed a weather analogy: There was a breeze and a slight swell in the Aegean, he said, adding that relations can change much like the weather. No meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently scheduled, although he said he wants communication channels to remain open.
The interview followed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Greece, which Mitsotakis said reinforced Athens’ role as a key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean. He described a relationship extending beyond defense into energy, investment, and regional connections.
On Israel, he drew a distinction between Greece’s strategic relationship with the country and its position on the current Israeli government. Close cooperation, he said, had not weakened Greece’s ties with Arab countries or the Palestinian Authority. He also pointed to Greek criticism of Israeli actions, particularly in the West Bank, and supported moving to the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
Cyprus featured again when Mitsotakis discussed Ukraine. He said ending the war by crushing Ukraine would reward the aggressor, linking Greece’s position to its commitment to international law and the protection of borders.
He invoked the continuing consequences of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, saying that 52 years later, the occupation of a significant part of the island remained an open wound.
On energy, Mitsotakis also highlighted Greece’s role in supplying gas to countries further north through existing pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities. He said an Exxon exploration well west of Corfu was expected in the second quarter of 2027.
At home, he ruled out both early elections and a Cabinet reshuffle, arguing that a difficult winter required stable government.
