Catherine Sendak
Hello, my name is Catherine Sendak and welcome to CEPA’s State of the Alliance, a series bringing together thought leaders from Europe and North America to deliberate the most pressing challenges facing allies and partners. Today, I am honored to welcome the Hellenic Republic Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika. Madam Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us today.
Ekaterini Nassika
Thank you very much for inviting me.
Catherine Sendak
Yes! It’s a pleasure. It is gearing up to be a very busy summer, and the rest of 2024, for the Alliance and Greece and United States. So we have a lot to get into. So we’ll go ahead and get started. We are more than two years into Russia’s full scale invasion into Ukraine. And in anticipation of the upcoming summit, and what we foresee as potentially a hard summer in Ukraine, I would love to hear your assessment of how the Alliance has done so far in supporting Ukraine in its efforts.
Ekaterini Nassika
Thank you very much. And, yes, we could now start by saying that Russia has suffered two strategic defeats. That’s for sure. On the ground, though, I doubted that they can either win or lose. Most challenging, it’s the most challenging times for the broader area and for the world since 1999. And Ukraine is at a very difficult and crucial juncture. But Ukrainians have shown a very brave resolve. And of course, we rely on them and we will assist them as long as it takes. But we have to take into consideration that this is going to be a marathon. And it’s not going to be a sprint. So NATO allies are leading the international response in providing economic, financial, and and humanitarian assistance. They are trying to help Ukraine with the reforms social thoughts, they, they developed a new interoperable and modern military force. And also, they contribute in building Ukraine’s capacity on the ground within Ukraine. That’s what we have to do. We have to help Ukraine, but also to help Ukraine stand on its own feet. We have, we have gone through a multi year comprehensive, comprehensive assistance plan, where we are helping them with their reforms. And that’s also something very, very interesting and we have taken tangibles steps. But it is very important now that we counter the pessimistic and rather negative perceptions that they exist. We have to focus on what we have achieved as alliance that we have been solidarity for Ukraine, that we take the decisions that we have says that Ukraine and at the same time, focus on the achievements of Ukraine, how brave they have been, and how they are preparing themselves, they are uncoding the West and they are preparing themselves to to be a part of a transatlantic and a European world.
Catherine Sendak
Absolutely. They are doing so much work in parallel to fighting on the battlefield. And Greece has been such a wonderful partner to Ukraine for years and especially since the the full scale invasion over two years ago. To that end, you know, you all are helping train F 16 pilots for Ukrainians. I, you are also a member of the Demining Capability Coalition under the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. You know, as we look at training and assisting and capabilities that Ukraine needs for the future, how do you all in Greece envision that long term need, that long term sustainment of assistance for Ukraine?
Ekaterini Nassika
Well, Greece has sided from the very first moment of the, since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. And, of course, we sided with Ukraine, and we have been assisting Ukraine since the very beginning, you mentioned a few areas where we assessed it. And we provided humanitarian assistance also, we provide defense equipment and money for this cap plan that we have developed within NATO. And also, you mentioned the demand in equipment. But most of all, I would say, I would say that the conflicts as much as a very, very unfortunate and terrible thing that it is, it has become also, on the other hand, an accelerator for solutions that we can provide within the region. And this is a while with Russia’s aggression now was blocked the the movement that was in Europe, that it existed for years and years in Europe, from east to west and west to east for both transport but also energy. We tried to develop and especially in Greece, because we have this access to the sea and to the one and only the ocean, that gives us the possibility to, to think of the world to think globally, we decided to create this north south corridor which has been developed and we have some infrastructure in Greece that was used cleverly and efficiently, which is the Alexandroupolis Port, where most of the equipment especially for the south and eastern flank, no air transported throughout the conflict for two years now, through there, we have been transporting through Greece, all the equipment to their deployment, spots especially in the southern as I told you and and eastern flanks. So first, transport through Greece. Second, energy diversification, we gave a huge relief to Europe. And we give possibilities and solutions also to Ukraine, because that’s where we are aiming at, apart from the diversification of sources. It’s also green energy that we’re trying and Greece already has 50% of green energy in the in its energy mix. And we are trying to, to through interconnectors, electricity interconnectors, not only LNG routes, or, or pipelines, but it’s also through electricity and electricity produced by wind through wind energy, we hope that we will give a solution not only through the Balkans, but further up towards Northern Europe to reach Ukraine.
Catherine Sendak
That’s so interesting. And let’s turn to energy security because it’s such a huge aspect of overall stability and security in Europe and globally. You know, it has been put at the forefront since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine to your point. And as you mentioned, you know, the war in Ukraine has highlighted for many Europeans and the West, the true adversarial nature of Russia and its threat to stability in Europe. I’m wondering from an energy perspective, Greece obviously at the forefront of these issues. How do you see that consensus over time within the EU and NATO through the West, on really divesting in certain types of energy to your point and increasing energy uses from other sources?
Ekaterini Nassika
I think that I have an optimistic approach on that. And we have started already and even since we are talking and it’s the NATO year, you know, 75 years of NATO. I believe that even in NATO, we try to get lessons learned from Ukraine, and we see what’s happening with the attacks, the Russian attacks against, against infrastructure, Ukrainian infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and also undersea. That’s also another area that we should focus. There are talks in NATO, there are talks in the European Union, we get our lessons, and we get our hands together to respond to the needs. And I am optimistic just why? Just because I see it in my own country, how much we have developed since the beginning of the, of the crisis. And since the moment that we spotted the problem, you know, and it was one of the first problems that were very obvious and very urgent to be resolved and it was this energy problem that we did offer solutions as I told you, and there are, there are interconnections in the Balkans, through Greece. The there is this interconnection with Bulgaria, there are other interconnections, connecting the Balkans, and, most importantly, the new ideas of, of in of connecting even from Israel through Cyprus, Egypt, there is this gradual interconnector with electricity that are aiming at Europe. And I think that not only I think about, we witness it every day, the European structures, both NATO and the EU are behind us and supporting the projects.
Catherine Sendak
It’s absolutely great to hear and of course, we want this to become the norm. Right, that we’ve we develop all these other diverse sources, and no one is ever really heavily reliant on on Russia and others. So, you know, you mentioned earlier, you know, the the reverberations through the continent on on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. And I wanted to highlight that fact that I think, and please tell me if you agree that Russian aggression also highlights other vulnerabilities in Europe and other regions of Europe that might be very vulnerable to Russian influence and other outside influences. Which brings me to the Western Balkans. You know, you all have in Greece taken great steps to ensure stability and security in the Balkans region. We’d love to get your thoughts on what can NATO, what can Greece, what can the United States do more of to bring more stability to the Western Balkans?
Ekaterini Nassika
Well, you are right and pointing out that the security situation in the Balkans it’s fragile and volatile. The situation remains under the stress of political fragmentation, ethnic tensions, sometimes corruption, weak institutions. But these are problems that have to be handled, most of all by the countries in the Balkans themselves. But those of us who are in the area, and we who already are parts of, of the bigger structures, for instance, NATO and Europe, have to assist them and have to advise them and that’s where the United States of America can play a role and advise the countries in the Balkans that they have to do also their own work and work with, work on their weaker points, so that they accelerate their path to Europe, to join Europe, to join Europe, and the EU is a totally different animal than NATO. When you join Europe, you are able and ready to give up almost 70% of your sovereignty. So you are asking to join a club with certain rules. You’ve got to be prepared and and play by the rules. They are not far away. They’re just, and I believe also that the European Union is very helpful recently with 6 billion plan that it has, and it offers to the Western Balkans and the Western Balkans, if they work hard, and we have all worked hard for reforms before we join the European Union, but it pays back, they equal this plan, now 6 billion plan. They will profit even before joining the European Union, if they go ahead with certain reforms. And I believe if you want me to tell you that it is, it is wrong, if we push countries to join the European Union before they’re ready and they make their own reforms. Sometimes, if you push too hard, this backlashes in the end. When they need to be, to persevere, to be optimistic they are on the path on the way but they need also to work and close some gaps that exist and be on an equal footing then with with countries that will be their partners in a bigger club.
Catherine Sendak
I think that’s a wonderful point. You know, you don’t want to push someone into an organization that necessarily doesn’t have everything in place to manage those expectations. It’s an excellent point. We are all hopeful who watched this region that this will come to fruition soon. And I am I’m encouraged by the 6 billion plan is you laid out engagement is so important. Well, Madam Ambassador, finally, you know, to to sum up this wonderful conversation. As we noted in the beginning this summer, it will mark the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance with a Summit here in Washington, DC. We’d love to get your thoughts on on what would be successful? What will we count as successes out of the Summit in July?
Ekaterini Nassika
Well, first of all, we see the environment that we are being faced with NATO 75th anniversary happens amidst Russia’s war as well as conflict and let’s say pervasive instability across across the southern flanks. We have to take into consideration also the developments in the Indo Pacific and China, so also policies that shape the global landscape. The Summit, though, taking all this into consideration, is an opportunity to showcase our, the alliance’s solidarity, cohesion, strength, confidence. We have to reaffirm our, to reaffirm that we will assist Ukraine. NATO who will confirm that’s it that will continue to deter and defend its territory, even the slightest inch of this third of of its territory, and also that we should shape the information environment and this is very important. Sometimes we are lagging behind there. And we need some more efforts to deter or to counter malign influence. But we need also to give a vision and the vision that we will give as NATO is that we stick to our values and that we stick to the bond that exists between Europe, Canada, and the United States of America. If we if we think back of 75 years of the Alliance. One is the main message that goes through the 75 years that the bond between United States of America, Canada, and Europe is the scenic of unknown factor to have a stable environment in a in the broader world, you know in the world. And I understand sometimes that US, the United States, are focusing on the Indo Pacific But the war in Russia, I believe that brutally reminded us how how important Europe is for the world. And we agree that NATO needs the right resources. And, but sometimes we could think of the fact that to spend in an more efficient way, is as important as to spend more, we need both. And as for Greece, we’ve done our fair share Greece is Greece is is giving to the alliance above 2% of its gross domestic products for for defense expenditures, and Greece is also exceeding the 20% of the investments for military equipments. So I think we this the most important message for NATO now is to remember the importance of the transatlantic bond, no matter of results of elections whatsoever. That’s the very important thing. And another thing is that NATO is still an attractive security structure. And that sometime in the future, I believe that we will, we will welcome Ukraine, where it truly belongs. When, you know, the conditions are right. Thank you very much!
Catherine Sendak
Absolutely, of course. Those points are so vital. I wrote down as you were saying it, you know, the opportunity to expand its vision and to message its vision as an alliance moving forward is so critical at this time. Madam Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us today.
Ekaterini Nassika
I thank you very, very much. That was a that was a great discussion.
Catherine Sendak
Wonderful. Thank you. And thank you for tuning in to this conversation of State of the Alliance. Please be sure to visit cepaorg.pages.dev and follow CEPA social media accounts for the latest events and analysis.
