Seafaring has always been a fundamental axis of power and order in the international system.
Today, in a rapidly changing world—where balances are contested and new rivalries emerge—security at sea acquires a critical geopolitical dimension.
Greece, a major maritime power and historic guardian of maritime democracy, stands at the center of these developments.
Maritime security is no longer limited to the physical protection of sea lanes or the resilience of ports.
It reaches deeper questions: the resilience of international rules, the limits of power, and the architecture of global stability.
In a world where borders shift and traditional security guarantees are tested, the sea once again becomes the first mirror of geopolitical change.
As Themistocles—so admired by Greeks and by friends of Greek history—aptly observed, the sea is a space that unites and separates, protects and exposes.
In classical strategic thinking, land was the realm of permanence, while the sea was the realm of dynamism and opportunity.
Great powers have consistently turned to the sea not only to extend their influence, but also to set the rules of participation for other powers in the international arena.
From the Athenian League to the British Empire’s pax maritima, the message remains timeless: maritime supremacy is not the imposition of control; it is the orchestration of free access.
For decades after the Cold War, the conviction prevailed that the maritime domain had been definitively pacified.
Today, however, that illusion has vanished. The seas are once again a field of competition over sovereignty, legitimacy, and influence.
Greece does not approach this challenge out of habit or passing interest. Its relationship with the sea is essential, multidimensional, and enduring.
It is part of our identity: we are a people of seafarers, merchants, and thinkers who understand that openness to the world does not weaken national identity—it forges it.
The Greek merchant fleet—the largest in the world by carrying capacity—plays a crucial role in transporting energy, food, and goods.
This is not only an economic advantage, but a geopolitical asset that gives Greece significant strategic weight—especially as global supply chains are being reshaped by the need for resilience in the face of crises.
Our geographic footprint in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and the sea arteries linking Europe with the Middle East and Africa makes Greece a pivotal hub for transit, security, and stability. Yet the strategic balance in the maritime neighborhood is under strain.
The postwar international regulatory framework—crowned by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)—is being challenged. Unilateral claims, the instrumentalization of maritime rights, and the militarization of disputed areas point to a new geopolitical reality in which international law risks being supplanted by raw power.
Faced with these challenges, Greece remains committed to law and principles. It does not seek escalation or coercion—nor does it accept the replacement of legality with ambiguity.
History shows that a blurred line at sea often foreshadows the collapse of peace. In this new environment, the concept of interregional corridors takes on critical geopolitical significance.
The India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) is a characteristic example of strategic thinking that goes beyond mere commercial networking.
At the terminus of this corridor lies Greece—not as a passive observer, but as a steady anchor of connectivity, governance, and opportunity.
Our ports and networks are critical infrastructure, but without clear rules and strategic management, even the most impressive infrastructure remains vulnerable.
The message is clear: seafaring is not only about the physical movement of goods, but also about the strategic management of power.
The Middle East stands as a characteristic example of the instability that threatens freedom of navigation.
Attacks on shipping now carry a political dimension, and asymmetric disruption is used as a tool of strategic pressure.
The international community must reject the normalization of this state of affairs.
Maritime security must be restored as a global public good—grounded not only in military strength, but also in shared values and principles.
Within this broader context, the role of the United States is—and will remain—central.
Despite an increased focus on the Indo-Pacific, their strategic presence in the Mediterranean is essential for maintaining order.
The deepening of the Greece–U.S. strategic relationship confirms this reality: Greece has become a key pillar of U.S. maritime strategy in the region.
For its part, Europe must adapt its strategy to the new reality.
Maritime threats are no longer hypothetical; they are immediate, multidimensional, and hybrid.
NATO must evolve to prevent maritime instability and to defend not only territory but also maritime zones.
The Aegean Sea remains a crucial area where Greece consistently supports dialogue and legality—without ceding its sovereign rights.
In conclusion, the choice is clear: either we preserve the sea as a space of peace and stability, or we yield to the centrifugal forces of fragmentation.
The answer will not come from rhetorical declarations, but from strategic resolve and collective action.
Greece is ready to play its rightful role—for seas that are no longer arenas of conflict, but a common good of peace and prosperity.