Antonis Samaras, Former Prime Minister of Greece: “Permanent Stationing of Greek and Allied Forces in Cyprus” – The former PM urges Greece to immediately bring the protection of Christian-GreekOrthodox populations in Syria to the EU agenda

The former PM urges Greece to immediately bring the protection of Christian-Orthodox populations in Syria to the EU agenda.

Former Prime Minister and former President of the New Democracy (ND) party, Antonis Samaras, delivered a sharp critique of the Mitsotakis administration during his keynote address at the War Museum for the launch of Ioannis Mazis’ book, “The Truth of the Word and with Informed Knowledge.”

Highlighting geopolitical concerns, Samaras remarked that “necessary foresight is, unfortunately, absent from today’s political leadership.”

Samaras voiced strong opposition to the withdrawal of Greek forces from Cyprus following the conclusion of the Middle East conflict, warning that such a move would result in “national humiliation.”

“I hear that Greek forces, the frigates, and the F-16s, will remain in Cyprus only ‘as long as necessary.’ I have warned from the very beginning that the deployment of Greek forces to Cyprus must not be done merely for communication purposes and polling numbers,” Samaras stated.

He further questioned: “What does ‘as long as necessary’ mean? Does it mean we depart once the Middle East crisis subsides? Did we send our weaponry solely for the crisis with Iran? Will Greece, a guarantor power of Cyprus, withdraw from the island as soon as the war in the depths of Asia ends? In other words, do we as a nation consider the threat of Iran to be greater for Cyprus and Hellenism than that of Turkey? If this occurs, then -forgive me- it will result in national humiliation.”

Ioannis Mazis, Antonis Samaras

Full Text of Antonis Samaras’ Address

“Tonight, I will speak about the book concerning my long-time friend, Giannis Mazis. Giannis Mazis essentially introduced geopolitics to Greece more than 35 years ago. His academic contribution spans four decades at the University, with a massive body of work including 43 books and monographs and 13 collective volumes, featuring 271 academic and other publications written in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Turkish.

He has been honored with numerous significant international distinctions, such as the rank of Knight of the National Order of the Academic Palms of the French Republic. Mazis is the founder of the Greek School of Geopolitics. It was his pioneering, Lakatosian-inspired scientific methodology that integrated systemic geopolitical analysis into international studies.

Giannis does not settle for data analysis for purely scientific reasons; through constant interventions, he keeps the Greek people informed about current events—and often, I would say, about what is yet to come.

Friends, as we undergo a global paradigm shift marked by massive tectonic shifts and turbulence, Greece must seek and utilize the knowledge of such individuals within this new environment. This environment is blurred and radically different from the diplomatic norms of recent years, with U.S. President Donald Trump as a primary protagonist today.

I have often spoken of geopolitics and the necessary foresight that is, unfortunately, lacking in our country’s current political leadership. I spoke in Parliament just a few days ago. Therefore, I do not intend to provide an extensive analysis or take a position on other political issues today. I will say only a few words regarding our region.

I hear that Greek forces, the frigates, and the F-16s, will remain in Cyprus only ‘as long as necessary.’ I have warned from the start that the deployment of Greek forces to Cyprus must not be for the sake of PR and polls. What does ‘as long as necessary’ mean? That we leave after the Middle East crisis? Did we send our arms only for the Iran crisis?

Will Greece, the guarantor power of Cyprus, withdraw from the island as soon as the war in the depths of Asia ends? In other words, do we believe as a nation that the threat of Iran is greater for Cyprus and Hellenism than that of Turkey? If this happens, it will lead to national humiliation. Because it would mean, first, that control of the region is practically handed back to Turkey and the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine, and second, that we are sending the message that Cyprus is, indeed, ‘too far away.’

Ladies and gentlemen, the protection of Cyprus cannot terminate because of Iran. It must terminate only when the Turkish occupation troops withdraw! Because that is the real, existing national threat. As Greece, a guarantor power under the treaties, we cannot ‘protect’ Cyprus when it is threatened by distant Iran for a few weeks, yet leave it completely unprotected while it is threatened by Turkey -which is right next door and remains an occupying power for fifty-two years.

And as a United Europe seeking strategic autonomy, we cannot pretend not to see that a member state of our Union has territory under occupation by a third, non-EU state. What kind of Union is this? And what kind of strategic autonomy does it pursue?

Therefore -pay attention- I have proposed capitalizing on the current circumstances to achieve the permanent stationing of Greek and other allied forces in Cyprus. A broad political alliance, including the United States, must be formed immediately to remain in Cyprus, on the border of Europe.

Lest we forget, the ‘Andreas Papandreou’ base on the island is already being used by the United States, as Americans are hosted there under a contract with the Republic of Cyprus and specifically the National Guard.

They have already begun modernizing the base to accommodate all types of aircraft, as happened during the previous Middle East war in 2023-24.

Thus, all geopolitical balances favor us. This is what deterrence looks like. This is what policy looks like. This is what a strong and proud nation looks like -one that is reckoned with by those around it, friends and… less-than-friends alike.

I hope that common sense and the national interest will prevail. I will stop here for today. However, I wanted to mention -once again- the abandoned Greek Orthodox Christians of Antioch in Syria, in ancient Seleucia. New incidents occurred against them two days ago by pro-Turkish groups. Houses and shops were attacked in an atmosphere of terror. They have sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking that Greece not leave them alone in this pogrom.

The bare minimum our country must do -instead of the unacceptable ‘comme il faut’ statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- is to immediately promote the issue of protecting Christian populations there within the EU and demand the establishment of a European Observatory in every Christian area. With an official European Observatory and corresponding European sanctions, the fanatical enemies of Christianity would never dare commit such atrocities.

Ultimately, this state has a duty to respond more broadly to the support of the nation.

Friends, Giannis and I share a common understanding on many issues. Above all, we stand against the debasement of politics and the dominance of so-called political correctness. And we share, I believe, a common hope for a true rebirth of our homeland, which the country so desperately needs.

I have said it, and I say it again in closing: patriotism unites, it does not divide!

Thank you.”