Question:

Minister, German-Greek relations seem to have recovered from the wounds of the debt crisis. You’ll be travelling to Athens on Monday for your first official visit. What will be the focus of this trip?

Johann Wadephul:

We Germans have a deep connection and friendship with Greece, its people and its millennia-old culture, which saved us from becoming estranged during the euro crisis. That crisis is over and Greece, Germany and Europe have stronger and closer ties than ever before.

The world is becoming increasingly unpredictable. We regard Greece as a key partner at the EU’s external border and in NATO. We work closely together – and not just in the political and economic spheres. The Goethe-Institut in Athens is our oldest institute abroad, while the German Archaeological Institute celebrated its 150^th anniversary last year. And Germany was the guest country at the 2024 Thessaloniki International Fair.

All of this shows that our relations have taken deep root. I’m travelling to Athens with the intention of further expanding this cooperation because we want a close partnership with Greece.

Question:

During her visit to Athens three years ago, your predecessor Annalena Baerbock categorically rejected Turkey’s territorial claims in the Aegean Sea. You criticised Baerbock at the time. What was wrong about this position?

Johann Wadephul:

To us, Greece’s sovereignty over its islands is indisputable. I want to make it very clear that we stand in full solidarity with Greece on this issue. What’s more, we need stability in the eastern Mediterranean. Public exchanges of blows don’t serve anyone. I firmly believe that unresolved issues between NATO partners can and should be sorted out in direct dialogue. Greece can count on our support on this. It has never been more important than today that we as NATO allies stick together and work as one. The fact that Greece and Turkey have embarked on a course of détente in recent years is a step in the right direction. I encourage both sides to pursue this path.

Question:

Turkey’s possible participation in the European defence instrument SAFE is currently a point of contention. How can a country which has threatened Greece with war be part of an EU defence programme?

Johann Wadephul:

Our security in Europe stands and falls with NATO’s cohesion. Greece and Turkey are both key players in the Mediterranean region. It’s crucial that we stand united despite our differences – against all those who want to test our security, especially Russia.

The EU needs a strong industrial basis in order to remain capable of defending itself. SAFE can help to close the gaps that remain. I can understand why Greece takes a different view of Turkey’s possible involvement. Understanding this standpoint better will be a key focus of my visit to Athens. On Monday, therefore, I will discuss with my colleague Georgios Gerapetritis how we can strengthen Europe’s defence capability without jeopardising the trust of our close partners.

Question:

Back in July, the German Government cleared the way for the delivery of 40 Eurofighter jets to Turkey. The German Government is said to have assured the Greek Government via “appropriate agreements” that these weapons systems were intended to boost stability in the region and, above all, within the NATO Alliance. Can you guarantee that these aircraft will not be deployed against Greece?

Johann Wadephul:

It’s right that the German Government recently responded positively to a preliminary enquiry from Airbus concerning negotiations with Turkey on the delivery of Eurofighters. These aircraft are part of a NATO system – they serve our collective defence and are intended to increase the security of all European partners. Deployment against another NATO member or an EU member state is inconceivable.

We’re engaged in an intense exchange with our partners in Greece and Turkey – as well as with the other Eurofighter nations Italy, Spain and the UK – with the aim of guaranteeing security in the eastern Mediterranean. There is a shared unequivocal understanding that these fighter jets will be deployed exclusively to strengthen NATO as a defence alliance, as well as to ensure security in the region.

Question:

The German Government wants to curb secondary migration and to send an increasing number of refugees back to Greece. How much of strain does this place on German-Greek relations?

Johann Wadephul:

Germany and Greece have the same goal: we want to regulate migration, curb illegal onward movement and enable fair procedures for those seeking protection. Both our countries are greatly affected by migration and therefore cooperate closely together at all levels. The new Common European Asylum System is an important step forward. It ensures solidarity with countries on the external borders, as well as clear rules for all member states. Now we need to resolutely implement it.

We consider secondary migration to be a separate matter. During the last five years, many thousands of people have travelled on to Germany even though their applications for asylum in Greece were approved. It’s important to us to end this trend so that secondary migration declines significantly overall. I want to reiterate once more that the EU’s external borders are also our borders. Germany stands by Greece’s side – when it comes to safeguarding the external border and when it comes to implementing European asylum policy.