Foreign Relations of Greece - West Asia and North Africa

West Asia and North Africa

Greece has a special interest in West Asia and North Africa because of its geographic position and its economic and historic ties to the area. The country cooperated with allied forces during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Since 1994, Greece has signed defense cooperation agreements with Israel and Egypt and in recent years, Greek leaders have made numerous trips to the region in order to strengthen bilateral ties and encourage the Middle East Peace Process. In July 1997, December 1997, and July 1998 Greece hosted meetings of Israeli and Palestinian politicians to contribute to the peace process. Greece also maintains diplomatic relations with the General Palestinian Delegation while enjoying cordial relations with Syria.

Country Formal relations began Notes
Algeria
  • Relations between the two countries have been traditionally friendly since Algeria's first years of independence.
  • Greece maintains an embassy in Algiers
  • Algeria is represented in Greece by its embassy in Athens.
  • Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Bahrain 01973-08-2828 August 1973
  • Bahrain does not have any representation in Greece.
  • Greece has an honorary consulates in Manama.
  • Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Greek honorary consulate in Manama
Egypt see Foreign relations of Egypt

Both countries share relations since the years BC with the creation of Alexandria by Alexander the Great. Egypt has had a sizable Greek community which is mostly centered around Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city and the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. In the modern era, both countries enjoy very good and warm diplomatic relations since 1833 and especially after the Greek War of Independence, and both countries have signed several defense cooperation agreements, with the heads of states visiting each other in a regular basis.

  • Egypt is represented in Greece by its embassy in Athens and General Consulate in Thessalonica.
  • Greece is represented in Egypt by its embassy in Cairo and General Consulate in Alexandria.
  • Sizable communities of Greeks live in Egypt (Alexandria) and Egyptians in Greece (Patras, Athens).
  • Greece and Egypt signed bilateral agreements for trade, tourism and defense cooperations.
  • Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Iran
  • Relations between the two people date back from the antiquity and before Persian invasion of Greece. There is also the report of Strabo of an Athenian delegation to Persia in 432 BC. The relations have evolved from sworn rivalry during the Greco-Persian wars to strong cordiality. Alexander the Great defeated the Persian empire and the country was ruled by rulers of Greek origin for a few years until they were defeated by Parthians (another group of Iranian people) and pushed backed from Persia to their homeland.
  • Greece has an Embassy in Tehran
  • Iran is represented by her Embassy in Athens.
  • Greek Ministry of Foreign Affaires about relations with Iran
  • Greece and the United States embassy have conversed regarding the combined military attitude towards the country. Read about it in this Wikileaks article
Iraq see Greece-Iraq relations

Relations of the Greek and Iraqi peoples are deeply rooted in history, both have developed cultures that have influenced the course of humanity. They date as far back as when Alexander the Great ruled Mesopotamia (which name is of Greek origin, meaning "the land between two rivers") and eventually died in Babylon, Iraq. Greece firmly and consistently supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. Greece traditionally maintained good and friendly relations with Iraq due to strong historical and cultural bonds, dating back to ancient times.

Greece has an Embassy in Baghdad, and Iraq is represented by her Embassy in Athens.
Israel see Greece–Israel relations
  • Since 1990, diplomatic relations between the two countries were upgraded from Diplomatic Representation to Embassy level.
  • Greece is represented in Israel through its embassy in Tel Aviv, its Consulate General in Jerusalem, and an honorary consulate in Haifa.
  • Israel is represented in Greece through its embassy in Athens.
Lebanon see Greek–Lebanese relations

The relation between both people dates back to early antiquity, with the early trading activities between the ancient Greeks and the Phoenicians. In modern times, Greek-Lebanese bilateral relations are very good at all levels. Greece has an embassy in Beirut and Lebanon has an embassy in Athens. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Francophonie.
Libya 1952
  • Diplomatic relations between the two countries date back since 1952, when Libya’s independence was formally recognized by the UN.
  • Relations between the two countries have been traditionally friendly.
  • Greece has an embassy in Tripoli.
  • Libya is represented in Greece through its embassy in Athens.
  • Greek Foreign Affaires Ministry about relations with Libya
Morocco
  • Bilateral relations between Greece and Morocco have traditionally been very good.
  • Greece has an embassy in Rabat, and a consular office in Casablanca.
  • Morocco is represented in Greece by its embassy to Athens.
  • Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Francophonie.
  • Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry about relations with Morocco
Qatar 1973
  • Greece has an embassy in Doha which opened in 2007.
  • Qatar has an embassy in Athens which opened in 2008.
Saudi Arabia
  • Greece has an Embassy in Riyadh. Greece has also a Consulate General in Jeddah.
  • Saudi Arabia has an Embassy in Athens.
  • See also Greeks in Saudi Arabia
  • Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Saudi Arabia
Sudan

Greece and Sudan have long enjoyed a very cordial and friendly relationship spanning decades. The two countries enjoy strong and productive relations in the areas of diplomacy, economic reciprocity, and also there are large concentrations of Sudanese (both students and immigrants) in Greece, and numerous Greek nationals who have resided in Sudan since the early 20th century. The two countries are on very good terms with each other, notwithstanding Sudan's close ties with Greece's historical rival, Turkey. Greece has an embassy in Khartoum, whilst Sudan is represented in Greece through the parallel accreditation of its embassy in Athens. The Hellenic country also deeply supports peaceful stability in Sudan's western region, Darfur.

  • Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Sudan
Syria
  • Greece has an embassy in Damascus and three honorary consulates (in Latakia, Tartus and Aleppo).
  • Syria has an embassy in Athens.
  • Both countries are charter members of the Union of the Mediterranean.
  • Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry about relations with Syria
United Arab Emirates 1971
  • Greece opened an Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 1989. Greece also has a commercial section in Dubai.
  • The United Arab Emirates are represented in Greece by their embassy in Athens.
  • Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry about relations with the United Arab Emirates

Read more about this topic:  Foreign Relations Of Greece

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