Greece: Athens and Riyadh sign contracts and avoid angry subjects

This photo provided by the Greek Prime Minister's Office shows Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, talking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their meeting, in Athens, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. AP - Dimtiris Papamitsos

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2 mins

Before heading to France, Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman, nicknamed MBS, is making his first visit to Europe in Greece since 2018. In Greece, MBS's two-day visit - Tuesday and Wednesday - translates to present concretely through the signing of a series of contracts, particularly in the field of energy and defence.

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From our correspondent in Athens, 

Mohammed ben Salman had not set foot on European soil for more than four years, the Saudi crown prince was then passing through Paris, it was in April 2018. That year, the assassination in Turkey of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi services had indeed tarnished the reputation of the kingdom and its leader in the Western world. 

Politically, however, the time seems today for reconciliation, just two weeks after the visit of US President Joe Biden to Riyadh.

After two postponements of his visit, it is now done, in Greece, where the strong man from Riyadh came accompanied by a large delegation of entrepreneurs.

Return the favour

By going to Greece, the gateway to Europe, MBS first of all returns the favor to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who made the trip to Saudi Arabia last October.

At the same time, the supply by Athens of Patriot missiles to Riyadh, then in trouble with Washington, would also have helped to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Θεσμοθετήσαμε επίσημα, με την υπογραφή σχετικής συμφωνίας, τη σύσταση Ανωτάτου Συμβουλίου Στρατηγικής Συνεργασίας των δύο χωρών, η οποία εδραιώνει τη στρατηγική σχέση τους και τη συστηματική προώθηση της διμερούς συνεργασίας σε όλους τους τομείς αμοιβαίου ενδιαφέροντος.

pic.twitter.com/YfTVa0z2JY

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 26, 2022

Concretely, this visit leads in particular to agreements concerning maritime transport and defence.

In the energy sector, memorandums of understanding have been signed, such as for the transfer of hydrogen or the installation of an electric cable that would link Saudi Arabia to Greece -and therefore to Europe- to provide energy that Riyadh touts as " 

 ".

During this first European visit in four years, journalists were not invited to ask questions of the visiting Saudi leader.

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• Saudi Arabia

• Greece

• Kyriakos Mitsotakis

• Mohammad bin Salman