His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met with His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, in Athens, as part of His Majesty’s visit to the Hellenic Republic.
His Majesty highlighted the longstanding relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Hellenic Republic and their continued development across various domains, emphasising the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation in support of the shared interests of the two countries and their peoples.
HM the King expressed his pleasure at visiting the Hellenic Republic and his appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to His Majesty and the accompanying delegation.
His Majesty said the ties between Bahrain and the Hellenic Republic extend beyond their shared history and are also centred on the security of maritime routes, freedom of trade and the stability of a region on which the world depends for energy security, supply chains and international trade.
HM the King noted that Bahrain and the Hellenic Republic are maritime nations, with Greece having one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, while Bahrain is located at the heart of the Arabian Gulf and hosts key maritime security partnerships in the region. His Majesty said both countries, as well as the wider international community, are affected by any threat to maritime navigation and share a responsibility to lead efforts aimed at preventing such threats.
His Majesty reiterated Bahrain’s position on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that any arrangements must be based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, and must safeguard the right of transit passage for all vessels without discrimination, fees or permits, to avoid setting a precedent that could affect merchant fleets worldwide.
HM the King expressed appreciation for the Hellenic Republic’s principled positions based on international law and for the close cooperation between the delegations of the two countries during their concurrent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
His Majesty said the visit aims to build on the longstanding relations between the two countries through tangible outcomes and effective cooperation in shipping, ports, investment and defence, while further strengthening Bahrain’s partnership with the European Union in support of security, stability, development and prosperity.
HM the King expressed hope that the talks would produce fruitful outcomes and extended an invitation to HE Prime Minister Mitsotakis to visit the Kingdom of Bahrain.
For his part, HE Prime Minister Mitsotakis welcomed His Majesty to the Hellenic Republic, noting that the visit comes during extremely turbulent times. He emphasised the particular importance he places on strengthening bilateral relations, building on the progress achieved over recent years, and expressed hope for further cooperation, particularly in shared investments between the two countries.
In light of developments in the region over recent months, HE the Prime Minister reiterated the Hellenic Republic’s full commitment to the security and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also noted the shared aspirations of the two countries for security and stability.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and means to further develop it, particularly in shipping and ports, trade, economy, investment, technology and defence, as well as coordination in international forums.
His Majesty and HE Prime Minister Mitsotakis also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and their implications for regional security and stability and the security of international navigation, as well as efforts in this regard. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments of common interest.
The two sides emphasised the importance of peaceful solutions to regional and international crises and conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic efforts based on international law, in support of peace, security and stability for all peoples.
At the conclusion of their talks, both sides emphasised their commitment to advancing fruitful cooperation and constructive joint action across areas of mutual interest.
HE the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in honour of His Majesty the King on the occasion of the visit, attended by members of His Majesty’s accompanying delegation and senior officials of the Hellenic government.
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