Athens, 25 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) – Greece and France extended their strategic cooperation agreement on Saturday for a further five years, pledging to cooperate more closely on defence.

Following a signing ceremony in Athens with French President Emmanuel Macron, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the event as "an historic day."

First agreed in 2021, the strategic cooperation will be permanent after the new five-year period expires.

The agreement includes a mutual defence clause in the event that either country is attacked. The two leaders said it was part of efforts towards a European Union that was more independent in military and foreign policy.

"We aim to inspire the rest of Europe and strengthen NATO's European pillars," Macron said.

Macron and Mitsotakis said that Article 42.7, the mutual assistance clause of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), was more clearly formulated than NATO's Article 5, which allows NATO members greater leeway in the event of crisis.

Speaking to Mitsotakis on front of Greek television earlier on Saturday, Macron said that France would stand at Athens' side in the event of a threat to Greece, for example from Turkey.

A spat between Greece and Turkey over natural gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean region came close to military conflict in the summer of 2020. Athens has since purchased 24 Rafale combat jets and four frigates from France.

Photo: Greek PM's Office