For the past 10 years, the Greek-British Symposium has served as a barometer not only for the state of relations between the two traditional allies, but also for a world in rapid change.
The first meeting was held in Nafplio, Greece, in 2017, shortly after the Brexit referendum, which had made it necessary for Britain to strengthen bilateral ties with its partners. Many adventures on Britain’s political scene followed, as did the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the second Trump presidency, war in the Middle East, and the spread of uncertainty across the globe. And so, this year’s meeting, in Athens, was titled “Redefining UK-Greece Relations,” as the two countries seek ways to make use of this relationship to their mutual benefit. In 2024, in Thessaloniki, the symposium’s theme was “Global supply chains in an age of geopolitical uncertainty: A South Eastern European perspective,” reflecting the main concerns of the time.
Last year, in Cambridge, England, keynote speaker Defense Minister Nikos Dendias commented on the symposium’s title, “Greece and the UK: Partners in an Age of Uncertainty,” by suggesting that a question mark be added to the title. “It is a goal to be achieved. It is not a given,” he said. This likely led to this year’s theme, underlining the frank discussions that this meeting fosters, as it brings together politicians, academics, entrepreneurs and representatives of various professions to analyze problems and propose solutions.
The symposium is held alternately in Greece and Britain. It is privately led and funded primarily by sponsorships. It is guided by a steering committee, in partnership with the Delphi Economic Forum, with the support of the British Embassy in Athens, the Greek Embassy in London, and the British Council. Kathimerini has been its media partner from the start.
Truth is that there have been years when there seemed to be lower interest in cooperation between the two countries. And, as Dendias hinted last year, there are issues that cause some unease. This is evident when the issue of Britain’s relations with Turkey in the defense sector arises.
At the end of the sessions in Athens over the October 10 weekend, speakers made clear their interest in strengthening ties and in learning from one another, analyzing opportunities in the fields of energy, defense and innovation, in education and culture. It was clear that the problems on the international scene are too great for any country to face on its own. British speakers noted that Greece provides a good example of a country that took the right measures to get over a serious crisis. Of course, the discussions were held against the background of the economic, political and social problems that are building up across Europe, and which affect both Greece and Britain.
Special concern was voiced with regard to the supply of natural gas to Europe if countries are unable to restock their stores. “If we have a severe winter, there will be fighting over every LNG tanker, and those prices will be very high,” one energy specialist commented. (The symposium abides by the Chatham House rule – comments are not attributed to particular participants).
Among proposals by British participants was closer cooperation in the fields of maritime security and defense in the Aegean. A Greek speaker noted the problem that exists in Greek companies developing defense programs: To achieve economies of scale, they need to work with partners in other EU countries, which may be cooperating with Turkish companies. For other Europeans, the perceived enemy is Russia, and Turkey is an ally, so they don’t share Greek concerns regarding Turkey.
The symposium is one of the few spaces where specialists from two countries can exchange such opinions in a climate that is friendly and productive.