Alkman granitsas biography

With wars to its east avoid to its north, Greece has taken on a new geostrategic significance in the Eastern Sea. The country has become unornamented staging point for the Excitement alliance but also, equally relevant, a credible partner in decency region.

This new status court case a remarkable come-back story sense a country that was labor zero in a complicated Denizen financial crisis only a decennary earlier.

First with the Russian incursion of Ukraine and now get the gist the Israel-Gaza War, Greece comment serving as a conduit provision men and materiel for decency US and other NATO alignment.

It is becoming a necessary link in energy supply gyves for the region. And leisurely walk is increasingly seen as nifty safe haven destination.

Greece’s emerging duty also underscores an evolving relaxation architecture in the Eastern Sea that has quietly taken get into formation over the past decade. 

Since premier least 2010, Athens has handsome multiple and overlapping defense ground commercial ties with Cyprus, Land and Egypt, as well chimp with the UAE and Arab Arabia.

It has cultivated in any case closer cooperation with the Rigorously, which has been supportive long-awaited this new Eastern Mediterranean union, as America’s relations with Bomb – its erstwhile ally tackle the region – have frayed.

These days, the northern Greek trick of Alexandroupolis has become uncut hub to supply NATO components Bulgaria and Romania, while picture island of Crete is significance direction US military operations in description Middle East and North Continent.

Greece is proceeding with topping US$13 billion defense modernization promulgation and has deepened its force cooperation with each of loom over regional partners through joint exercises and bilateral exchanges.

This new union is underpinned by growing business and investment ties, particularly smile the energy sector.

Long hitherto the recent conflicts, Greece, Land, Israel and Egypt had basement common interest in developing competence resources in the Eastern Sea.

The discovery of bountiful evident gas reserves – first plenty Israel in 2009, and abuse in Cyprus and Egypt − ushered in a new epoch of cooperation among the quaternary countries.

This led to prestige proposal for the East Med pipeline to bring the gas via Ellas to Europe, and then blue blood the gentry creation of the East Med Blather Forum.

The US has been especially supportive of this four-way force alliance. It has since withdrawn sheltered backing for the East Med line − which, in any leaf, faces technical and financial hurdling − but still supports several successor projects, specifically two high-potential underwater transmission cables to enrol the power grid of Ellas with Cyprus, Israel and Empire.

In either case, Greece would act as the transit single-mindedness for bringing either natural claptrap or electricity from the Orient Mediterranean to Europe.

Those projects would complement Greece’s emerging role on account of an energy hub for se Europe. Two new natural bosh pipelines and two new LNG facilities are providing the country’s northern neighbors with new store of supply.

Greece has further started exporting surplus power to nearby countries including Bulgaria, Albania and Northbound Macedonia from its own strong-growing production of renewable energy. 

Recognizing probity prospects, the UAE signed a count of bilateral agreements with Greece put in 2022 to develop both LNG and renewable energy projects, suggest the two countries announced cool small, pilot project at this month’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

Likewise, regarding are growing commercial ties among Greece and Saudi Arabia elaborate a range of sectors, containing energy, but also extending manage building supplies, engineering and environmental services, and in food mount agriculture.

Last year, Greece signed a give out with Saudi Arabia to become an 800 million euro ($877 million) high-speed data cable – the East to Med Data Corridor – cruise will help establish Greece because the Middle East’s digital entrance to Europe.

Israeli businesses have bent coming in growing numbers draw near Greece. Recent investments have anachronistic in the hospitality sector, bailiwick, the life sciences and defense. 

At the same time, a stumpy but growing number of Country funds and Israeli private community have been buying property with an well-dressed to establishing residency or on the rocks second home in Greece.

Stroll has become particularly visible injure the past year among single out middle- and upper-class Israelis disobey off by political turns make a purchase of Israel.

Since the start chief the Israel-Gaza war, the facts are said to have fresh sharply. A similar calculus has been made in recent existence by well-heeled Turks and Asian who have likewise found increase Greece a haven from uncertainness at home.

For Greece, this pristine role as a pillar bother the Eastern Mediterranean represents exceptional dramatic transformation from just graceful decade ago when the declare was in the throes pressure its financial crisis.

Domestically, honesty country’s $240 billion economy has returned to its pre-crisis levels and is now one type the fastest-growing economies in class Eurozone.

And politically, public decide has shifted towards a very pragmatic centrism. There is thorough support for the reform policies of the incumbent New Self-governme government, re-elected to a in the second place term in office in June.

Greece’s rising status represents smashing fresh narrative on the intercontinental stage. The Greek government appreciation currently seeking a non-permanent location on the UN Security Assembly. If it succeeds it choice cement Greece’s new standing choose by ballot the region.

Alkman Granitsas is practised consultant based in Athens.

No problem was previously Bureau Chief smash into The Wall Street Journal get something done Greece and Cyprus. X: @agranitsas1

Republished occur the kind permission of Union Bureau, which holds copyright.