Canada has signed a wide-ranging bilateral agreement on the mutual protection of classified information with Greece.

The General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), signed on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Athens, establishes a legal framework for Canada and Greece to share classified information, defence intelligence, and technical data on weapons systems.

The treaty was announced jointly by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Joël Lightbound, Canada's Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement. Officials say the bilateral pact is designed to deepen cooperation between the two NATO allies.

“At a time of growing global uncertainty, trusted partnerships are more important than ever,” Mr. Lightbound said in a statement, adding that the framework will help Canadian businesses compete for foreign defense contracts.

For Ottawa, the deal represents a targeted effort to expand its footprint in the Mediterranean. As maritime nations, Canada and Greece have found common ground on coastal defense, naval intelligence, and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure. Once fully ratified, the agreement will permit authorized private contractors and government institutions in both countries to securely exchange tactical information regarding maritime situational awareness and transnational threats.

Ms. Anand noted that this agreement opens new avenues for collaboration in sectors that matter to both countries - like aerospace and advanced technologies.

The formal signing ceremony in Athens was attended by Canada’s Ambassador to Greece, Sonya Thissen, alongside Greek defense officials, including National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and Major General Emmanouil Chatzis.

The deal comes amid a broader push by the Canadian government to modernise its military procurement strategy and strengthen institutional ties with like-minded European Union partners. Stephen Fuhr, Canada's Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, noted that the agreement makes it possible for government and industry in the two countries to communicate and co-operate securely on a wide range of bilateral defence priorities.
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HCRI; Notes from PSPC

The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Sent via email

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

​The Hellenic Canadian Research Institute writes to express its deep concern regarding your upcoming visit to Turkey from October 21 to 23, 2026, and the stated intention to “elevate” the Canada–Turkey partnership in various sectors, including plans to deepen cooperation in defence and security.​

While constructive diplomacy and balanced trade agreements remain essential to Canada’s international engagement - particularly as global trade dynamics continue to evolve under this current Trump administration - we must firmly oppose any effort to expand cooperation with Turkey in the defence and security sector, given the country’s troubling human‑rights record, increasingly aggressive foreign policy, and longstanding inconsistencies in its behaviour as an ally.

Throughout 2026, we have observed a very concerning trend in Canadian government communications repeatedly asserting that Turkey is an “important strategic ally” to Canada and the West. This shift in language appears sudden and historically unfounded, lacking any historical or contemporary basis that would justify such a designation. We believe it is essential to address this narrative before it becomes accepted as fact.

Turkey has not historically acted as an important strategic ally to Canada or to her other Western partners. Rather than aligning with shared priorities or collective security, Turkey has consistently pursued its own interests, even at moments of profound global consequence. During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers against the Allied forces, and over 30 Newfoundlanders were killed in direct engagements with Turkish troops during the Gallipoli campaign. In the Second World War, Turkey remained strictly neutral for nearly the entire conflict and signed a friendship agreement with Nazi Germany on June 18, 1941, at a moment when Canada and its allies were fighting for the survival of Europe.

More recently, Turkey’s conduct has continued to diverge from the principles and commitments expected of a reliable partner. Its ambivalent posture during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its transactional approach to NATO obligations, and its permissive environment during the rise of ISIS all demonstrate a pattern of selective engagement rather than genuine alliance. Turkey’s political support and hosting of Hamas-affiliated figures, coupled with its expanding channels of communication with Hezbollah, undermine its alignment with the security priorities of Canada and the West. At home, Turkey has presided over a severe deterioration in human‑rights protections, including the repression of political opposition, widespread restrictions on media and civil society, and the erosion of judicial independence.

Mr. Prime Minister, looking specifically at the defence and security sector, we urge you to consider the following critical issues that directly contradict the notion of Turkey as an important strategic ally to Canada and the West:

• Cyprus: Turkey maintains an over five-decade illegal military occupation involving demographic engineering and property exploitation. Canada's peacekeeping mission there resulted in the deaths of 28 Canadian soldiers as a direct consequence of Turkey's aggression and continued occupation of the island.
• Greece: Turkey engages in confrontational behaviour toward Greece, including airspace violations, naval incidents, and sovereignty challenges in the Aegean Sea, undermining regional and NATO stability.
• Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh): Turkey diverted Canadian-made drone technology to Azerbaijan during the 2020 conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), breaching end-use assurances with Canada. This enabled operations leading to the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population.
• Exploiting Geopolitical Distraction: Capitalizing on the global distraction of the October 7 war between Israel and Hamas, Turkey intensified airstrikes against civilian infrastructure and agricultural sites in Kurdish areas of Iraq and Syria.
• Syria: Turkey's military occupation and establishment of a northern Syria "buffer zone" has caused large-scale displacement of Kurdish communities, systemic looting, and demographic engineering.
• Human Rights: International watchdogs document persistent repression of ethnic and other minorities, the erosion of judicial independence, and systemic state-enabled discrimination.

Canada’s international engagement must be guided by principle, consistency, and respect for international law. Elevating defence and security cooperation with Turkey would contradict these commitments, risking entangling Canada in actions that undermine our global credibility.​

We urge you to reconsider any defence and security‑related engagement during your visit and to ensure that Canada’s partnerships abroad reflect our values, our history, and our responsibilities.

Sincerely,

​Hellenic Canadian Research Institute

​In a move that blends historical memory with modern infrastructure spending, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday unveiled a new monument in the Lemesos (Limassol) district, using the occasion to reinforce his government's red lines on the island’s long-frozen peace process.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Monument to the EOKA Liberation Struggle Fighters 1955–1959 in the village of Pyrgos, Lemesos, Mr. Christodoulides announced €160,000 in state funding for the local community. The financial package includes €10,000 to cover outstanding construction costs for the monument, with a pledge that the government will absorb any additional overruns, and €150,000 earmarked for the redevelopment of the village’s historic center.

The monument itself represents a decade-long grassroots effort, financed by a local fundraising campaign initiated by Pyrgos residents and authorities in 2012.

The President praised the village's historic mobilization during the anti-colonial campaign against British rule, characterizing the 1955–1959 insurgency as the country’s “purest struggle.” He emphasized that the monument serves an essential educational role, ensuring younger generations understand the fight for independence "so that they may take pride in it." EOKA (the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters), formed in 1955 under General George Grivas, waged an armed campaign against British administrators with the original aim of achieving “enosis,” or union with Greece.

However, the commemoration comes at a sensitive diplomatic juncture for the divided Mediterranean island. Mr. Christodoulides directly addressed critics who suggest that celebrating EOKA undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts to reunite Cyprus.

“Any lasting solution must rest not on self-negation,” Mr. Christodoulides countered, arguing that a viable peace settlement must ultimately “respect history” rather than dissolve the republic's identity.

​The President also took aim at Ankara, labeling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent calls at the United Nations General Assembly for a formal two-state solution as both "extreme and counterproductive." The remarks underscore the deep impasse between the Greek Cypriot leadership, which backs a unified federation, and the current Turkish government stance demanding recognition of a separate sovereign state in the north.

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​HCRI

MIKE FM 105.1, Montreal’s premier independent, family-owned radio station, has officially launched a critical programming fund campaign. This initiative offers listeners, businesses, and community advocates a rare opportunity to invest directly in the independent media that champions local causes every single day.

​Unlike major corporate media conglomerates, MIKE FM 105.1 operates with complete creative freedom. Built from the ground up by a local Montreal family, the station serves as a vital megaphone for dozens of grassroots, non-profit, and community organizations that rely on the airwaves to share their missions, rally volunteers, and raise essential funds.

"Being independent means we answer to our community, not a corporate boardroom," says the MIKE FM team. "Every day, incredible local organizations do extraordinary work in our neighbourhoods. They need a place to tell their stories, ask for help, and reach the people who can make a difference. MIKE FM is that place."

A Legacy of Giving Back

MIKE FM 105.1 has consistently dedicated extensive airtime to public service and community education, producing high-impact, grassroots programming including, but not limited to:

• Senior Advocacy & Awareness: Partnering with the AQDR to protect and celebrate seniors.
• Health & Wellness: Dedicated segments with the Heart & Stroke Foundation and vital expert medical advice.
• Animal Welfare: Practical pet and veterinary guidance featuring Dr. Sébastien Kfoury.
• Public Safety & Justice: Inside looks at law enforcement with Sylvain L’Heureux and collaborative programming with the SPVM.
• Crisis Support & Children’s Care: Amplifying the life-changing work of the Shriners Hospital for Children and The Shield of Athena.

A Vital Platform for Cultural and Academic Voices

Recognizing the station's immense value, the Hellenic Canadian Research Institute strongly calls upon Greek Canadians and philhellenes to support the MIKE FM Programming Fund.

As part of this invaluable partnership, the Hellenic Canadian Research Institute is proudly given a dedicated broadcasting platform every Sunday at 5:00 PM (Montreal). This weekly program is exceptionally well-received by older Greek Canadians, providing them with a rare and highly valued opportunity to hear comprehensive, in-depth analyses of critical Greek historical, political, and national issues in the Greek language. By funding MIKE FM, supporters are directly preserving this essential educational program for the elders of our community.

Other Greek organizations that have benefitted from the MIKE FM platform includes: Canadian Hellenic Congress, Hellenic Congress of Quebec, The Hellenic Initiative (THI), Magic Mission, the live broadcasting of the Holy Liturgy of the Greek Orthodox Church, Greek News Updates with Ilias Iliopoulos, and much more.
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The Opportunity to Make a Difference

By contributing to the MIKE FM Programming Fund, donors are not just keeping a radio station on the air; they are securing the future of independent storytelling and ensuring Montreal's grassroots, non-profit, and community organizations retain their loudest, most dedicated voice.

How to Support

Donations can be made directly through the official campaign page MIKE FM Programming Campaign on the fundraising platform Zeffy. If you would like to email or call MIKE FM directly to find out more, you can find their contact information directly on their website here.

In a landmark display of cultural diplomacy, the prime ministers of Greece and Bulgaria gathered Saturday to witness the formal return of stolen cultural relics and the repatriation of royal remains, a move Athens immediately leveraged to pressure Great Britain over the Parthenon Marbles.

The ceremony, held at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki, saw Bulgaria return 48 sacred religious relics, including holy icons, crosses, and an ornate Episcopal throne, looted by Bulgarian guerrillas from monasteries in eastern Macedonia during the First World War. In exchange, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis handed over the mortal remains of Tsar Samuel, a revered 10th-century warrior king and Bulgarian national hero whose bones were excavated by a Greek archaeologist in 1965.

​"The repatriation of great relics of collective memory transforms the difficult moments of the past into bridges for a common future," Mr. Mitsotakis told the gathering.

While Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev hailed the accord as a historic triumph that "unites, not divides" the two neighboring European Union states, Mr. Mitsotakis used his platform to address a much older grievance with London. 
​

​Connecting the Balkan accord directly to Greece's century-long campaign to reclaim the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum, the Greek leader argued that global sentiment is shifting away from viewing cultural treasures as permanent trophies.

"Monuments and historical heirlooms cannot be treated as spoils of war, nor as the result of circumstances subsequent to their creation," Mr. Mitsotakis said, explicitly targeting the legal arguments long maintained by British authorities. He firmly rejected any potential compromise that would see the sculptures return to Athens merely as a temporary loan, stating that his country "will not accept arrangements that imply recognition of foreign sovereignty" over its own heritage.

The 48 returning Greek artifacts will remain on display in Thessaloniki until early November before being returned to their original monastic homes. Meanwhile, Tsar Samuel’s remains were flown back to Sofia aboard a military transport plane with a fighter-jet escort, where they were received with full state honors and a 21-gun salute.

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​HCRI; Notes from PMHR

​As of 1 October 2026, Greece assumes, for the second time during its current term as an elected member, the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. According to the United Nations Charter, the Security Council is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security, guided by the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Developments in Ukraine and the broader Middle East, as well as a range of other regional and international crises, will be at the centre of the Security Council’s work. At the same time, the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council will convene for their annual joint consultative meeting.

The selection process for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations will be a particularly significant development during the month. As the country holding the Presidency, Greece will be responsible for building the necessary consensus among Security Council members towards the selection of the new Secretary-General, at a time when strengthening the credibility and international standing of the United Nations is absolutely necessary.

During its Presidency, Greece will draw on the international capital it has built as a bridge between East and West, North and South. In this context, the central High-Level Event of the Greek Presidency will be held on 29 October and will focus on freedom of navigation and maritime security, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Dedicated sessions will also be held on the other priorities of the Greek Presidency, including the protection of civilians, particularly children, in armed conflict, and Women, Peace and Security.

In this context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis stated:

“Today, Greece assumes, for the second time during its term, the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, at one of the most critical junctures for the international community.

As an elected member of the Security Council and a country with a strong international diplomatic footprint, Greece will work consistently and persistently to promote effective and functional multilateralism, an international order based on principles and rules, and the strengthening of the United Nations’ role in promoting peace.

To this end, we will work together with the members of the Security Council, actively contributing to efforts to uphold international peace and security.”

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MFAHR

​Greece and Bulgaria have signed a landmark cultural agreement that resolves a decades-long heritage dispute by establishing a reciprocal exchange of historical relics and medieval royal remains.

The memorandum of understanding, signed by Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Bulgarian Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev, outlines the repatriation of dozens of Greek religious artifacts in exchange for the bones of a 10th-century Bulgarian emperor.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bulgaria will return 48 religious relics to Greece. The items, stolen during the Bulgarian occupation of eastern Macedonia (1916-1918) from the Holy Monasteries of Panagia Eikosifoinissa and Timios Prodromos of Serres, and from the Holy Metropolis of Serres and Nigrita, were taken to Sofia in 1917 during the First World War. For over a century, the treasures have been held or displayed at the National History Museum of Bulgaria.

In a reciprocal transfer, Greece will hand over the remains of Tsar Samuel, who ruled the First Bulgarian Empire from 997 to 1014.

The remains were discovered in 1965 by Greek archaeologist Nikolaos Moutsopoulos during excavations at the Basilica of Saint Achillios, located on an island in Little Prespa Lake near Greece's northern border. Anthropological material from three other sarcophagi found at the site will also be included in the transfer. The bones have spent recent years stored at the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev praised the accord, stating that the memory of the medieval ruler now "unites rather than divides" the two neighboring nations. Mr. Radev expressed gratitude to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the political determination required to finalize the agreement.

The formal signing ceremony and handover protocol will take place this Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Museum of Byzantine Culture. Both Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Radev are scheduled to attend.

Following the ceremony, Tsar Samuel’s remains are expected to be flown by military aircraft to Sofia, where they will be permanently interred at the Church of Saint Sophia. The 48 returning Greek artifacts will remain on temporary exhibition at the Thessaloniki museum until Nov. 5, 2026, before being returned to their respective monasteries and dioceses of origin.

Officials from both countries confirmed that negotiations will continue regarding the identification and potential return of additional historical items not covered by the current agreement.

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HCRI; Notes from MINCULHR

During the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22 - 26 and 28 September 2026), Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, stated that​ “we are facing a rupture, not a transition,” as she pointed out that “great powers are walking away from global economic cooperation, and dismantling economic integration.”

Coerced by these same powers “to accept what we are offered” along with their disdain of state sovereignty, Canada simply desires a peaceful, prosperous and predictable existence.

It has therefore decided on strategic autonomy “to make our own choices, and to determine our own, sovereign future,” she said.

“We can no longer afford to be overly reliant on any one partner.” She announced that her country is already forming alliances with small states, middle powers, and great powers to address emerging global challenges. The Coalition of the Willing, the Arctic Seven and the Nordic-Baltic Eight are examples of Ottawa’s partnerships in this regard.
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​She said her Government, having secured over 20 economic and defence partnerships in the past year, is making investments to strengthen “our ability to protect Canada and to contribute to peace and security around the world.”

With current GDP defense spending at two per cent, its goal is to attain the NATO-stipulated five percent by 2035.

“Canada is stepping up and taking greater responsibility for our own defense. We are making the largest defense investments in generations – allocating over 80 billion dollars in last year’s budget,” she stressed.

Recalling the “scourge of antisemitism” which surfaced in the Belleville Synagogue attack in Ontario on the “holiest day of the Jewish calendar” this week, she said, “Canada is an open, pluralistic society with a public square full of robust and civil debate.” As such, "we will continue to speak out against the unacceptable rise in hatred..."
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UN Summary

During the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22 - 26 and 28 September 2026), Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, hailed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as a successful example of multilateralism. However, strategic maritime routes are becoming areas of geopolitical confrontation, with grave consequences for supply chains, energy markets and food security worldwide.

“Freedom of navigation and uninhibited passage through international straits, as guaranteed by international law, must be championed globally,” he declared, adding that this topic will be a high priority during Greece’s turn as Security Council president in November.

Describing Greece as “a bridgebuilder, not a troublemaker” in a time of tectonic geopolitical change, he said the Gaza Peace Plan must be effectively implemented and Hamas disarmed.  Illegal acts on the West Bank that undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state cannot be allowed to continue.

In Lebanon, joint action is crucial to avoid a security vacuum and maintain an effective international and European presence once the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends.
​

In Syria, the new authorities must do more to uphold the rights and security of all religious and ethnic communities, including the Orthodox Christian minority.

In the face of broader regional challenges, Greece and Turkey must agree on how to move forward, based on full respect for international law and good-neighbourly relations, he said. “After all, we cannot change our geography and we are destined to live side-by-side.”

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is the only institutional framework for the two countries to solve their long-standing dispute over their continental shelf and exclusive economic zones.

“For the United Nations, Cyprus remains a litmus test of its credibility,” he added, expressing hope that UN efforts to restart negotiations will continue under the next Secretary-General with a view towards the island’s reunification, “free of occupation forces”.

To read the full transcript of Prime Minister Mitsotakis' UNGA address on the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic website, please click here.

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​UN Summary; Last update made on September 26, 2026.

During the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22 - 26 and 28 September 2026), Nikos Christodoulides, President of Cyprus, said Member States’ genuine willingness to contribute and protect the multilateral system will ensure it can respond to contemporary issues.

“After all, States bring different capabilities, experiences and perspectives,” he said, adding that small States must use persuasion to help shape outcomes. Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus has helped address global and regional emergencies.

He pointed to the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station, hosted at Paphos Air Base and supported by the European Union, and the Cyprus Center for Land, Open Seas and Port Security, as examples of its efforts.

Cyprus’ ability to build consensus was evident at its presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of this year.  “Our size did not diminish the responsibility to lead,” he said.  “Nor did it diminish our ability to fulfil it.”
​

​Turning to the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, he called President Erdoğan’s recent remarks, made Monday at the Assembly’s opening session, on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity “hypocrisy of the highest form”, in relation to Cyprus.

“Mr. Erdoğan, if you want to quote from the Charter, you must first apply it,” he said. The Council has established the framework to settle the Cyprus problem.

That framework, of a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality, remains the only basis to a comprehensive settlement.  “I remain fully committed to achieving a comprehensive settlement,” he said, adding he is ready to resume negotiations that ended in 2017.

The common ground with relevant Council resolutions and international law exists. “What is now required, is political will by all parties,” he said. He called on President Erdoğan to give the green light for substantive negotiations within the UN-agreed framework.

​“Despite the challenges because of the Turkish occupation, Cyprus remains resilient and steadfast in our faith in the multilateral system,” he said.

To read the full transcript of President Nikos Christodoulides' UNGA address on the Government of Cyprus website, please click here.

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UN Summary

During the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22 - 26 and 28 September 2026), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, said that Gaza “has become the most inhumane and shameful concentration camp of our time”, also lamenting that after the ceasefire, more than 1,500 in Gaza have been killed.

Turning to recent settler violence in the West Bank, he said, “we are faced with a genocidal mindset that can never get enough of killing”.

The situation is “shocking”, he stressed, noting that the United Nations has been rendered incapable of fulfilling its missions in crisis zones, including in Lebanon and Sudan.

​Calling for trust to be restored in the international system, he welcomed the UN80 Initiative while cautioning:  “If we are truly committed to restoring confidence in the UN, the steps are clear:  children in Gaza must be safe.”
​

​He called for Security Council reform, noting that “the world is bigger than five.” Moreover, “international law must not be applied differently for the strong than for the weak”, he said, decrying impunity and warning that “such a system is doomed to decay”.

He also highlighted his country’s defence alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan who are working together to address the conflict in the Gulf, adding, “Any efforts to spread these clashes to neighbouring regions serves no one’s interest.”

Turning to his country’s relationship with Europe, he recalled July’s “successful” NATO summit in Ankara, stressing that “A Europe that excludes Turkey from its security architecture cannot possibly be stronger or safer.”

His country’s security strategy will be shaped with this in mind.  Also, listing several threats to children, including technology, he condemned “gender neutralization policies” that have targeted kids, urging the protection of the institution of family consisting of women and men.

“Turkey will continue to take initiatives to protect the family despite attacks from certain lobby groups,” he said.

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UN Summary; Last update made on September 22, 2026.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Giorgos Gerapetritis, visited Toronto on September 18 and 19, 2026.

On Friday, September 18, the Minister held meetings with the former Archbishop of Canada, Sotirios, and the new Archbishop of Canada, Apostolos.

Subsequently, Mr. Gerapetritis was the keynote speaker at an event hosted by the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, titled "The Rise of a New Geopolitical Era."

On Saturday, September 19, Mr. Gerapetritis attended the enthronement ceremony of the new Archbishop of Canada, Apostolos. During his visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held meetings with representatives of the Greek Diaspora, as well as of ecclesiastical and business institutions.
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​MFAHR; GRCTV; MSGAPP

The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhürman, met today on 9 September 2026, hosted by the United Nations Good Offices Mission in Cyprus.

The meeting took place ahead of the leaders’ expected travel to New York, where they are due to hold separate meetings with United Nations officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week.

The United Nations Good Offices Mission in Cyprus supports the work of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in the peace process and facilitates the 13 Technical Committees, helping sustain dialogue, build trust and address issues of importance across the island. It is recalled that during his July 2026 visit to the island, the Secretary-General said he would convene another 5+1 meeting in a broader format “after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved” adding that the United Nations would work with the two sides and the guarantors and engagement would continue.

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GOMCY

Prime Minister Mitsotakis: A shared vision for stability and prosperity

Speaking during the joint statements made by the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt following their informal trilateral summit, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed out that they held extensive discussions on all major regional challenges. This, he said, proved that this cooperation served as a positive paradigm for stability and security - a path of understanding that always advances a positive agenda and is directed against no country whatsoever.

​"Regarding Gaza, we reiterated our support for a just peace, consistently based on the two-state solution," he noted, highlighting the need for humanitarian aid to arrive unhindered and for Hamas to be disarmed.

"We must curb illegal migrant flows from eastern Libya to Greece, and I would like to congratulate President El-Sisi on the determination shown by Egypt, in managing and tackling the problem of illegal migration," Mitsotakis stated, referring to Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

​Concerning the Cyprus issue, he stated that he reiterated his solidarity regarding the prospect of a fair and viable settlement within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with Security Council resolutions. "This would constitute a significant contribution to peace and stability throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. We support efforts for the resumption of talks," he underlined.

Regarding freedom of navigation, Mitsotakis stressed that it is a matter of global importance. "A global maritime power, such as Greece, places this issue at absolute priority. The Greek presidency of the Security Council is planning new initiatives," he added. As the Greek Prime Minister also emphasised, "We are united by our commitment to international law, specifically the Law of the Sea, having proved in practice that the delimitation of maritime zones can be achieved through dialogue," referring to the partial agreement with Egypt, "which demonstrated that when there is political will and a commitment to international legality, we can achieve mutually beneficial convergences while simultaneously enhancing stability in the region."

"This has been, is, and will continue to be our overall approach both in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean. Greece threatens no one; it seeks stability through functional, good-neighbourly relations, always grounded in international law. However, stability by no means implies yielding or tolerance towards accomplished facts. Consequently, Greece is afraid neither to defend its positions with confidence nor to engage in dialogue. These are the two sides of a responsible foreign policy," the Greek PM declared.

The prime minister referred to the cooperation among the three countries in the fields of energy, connectivity and investments, describing the Greece-Egypt electrical interconnection as a project of strategic significance.

President El-Sisi: Trilateral cooperation enhancing stability region; Egypt-Greece electricity connection 'a true milestone'

The strategic importance of the cooperation between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus for stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean was underlined by President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, following the conclusion of the meeting.

The Egyptian president placed particular emphasis on the energy connection with Greece, cooperation in the natural gas sector, and the coordination of third countries on issues of defence and security. He also described the Trilateral mechanism as a model of strategic regional cooperation, underlining that it is based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and the defence of International Law rules. El-Sisi also referred to the three countries' shared commitment to strengthening stability in the region, but stressed that security should be based on respect for countries' sovereignty and of International Law.

On energy cooperation specifically, the Egyptian president said it was at the forefront of the Trilateral relationship. Egypt, he said, placed great significance in the promotion of power connectivity works, especially that of Egypt and Greece, which he described as "a true milestone" in advancing regional energy integration. He also referred to plans for the transfer of Cypriot natural gas to Egyptian infrastructure and then to its re-export to European countries.

El-Sisi also made a particular note of the Trilateral scheme's defence aspect, as cooperation between the three countries included coordination in security and defence sectors in order to manage challenges in the region. In addition, the three countries reviewed ways of further boosting political coordination and economic cooperation, as well as new investment capabilities in Egypt in the sectors of technology, infomatics, tourism, industry, health, education, construction and infrastructure.

Commenting on developments in Gaza, he expressed Cairo's opposition to any effort to "displace Palestinians" or "change the demographic composition of Palestinian lands." He called for the full implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh ceasefire agreement and for the unhindered access of humanitarian aid. El-Sisi also reiterated Egypt’s position in favour of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On other issues, El-Sisi stressed the importance of a Libyan-led political process that would lead to the holding of elections, while calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from the country. Regarding Syria, he highlighted the convergence of the positions of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus in favour of preserving the country’s unity and territorial integrity and opposing any attempt to partition it.

The three leaders also exchanged views on developments in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, with El-Sisi reiterating Cairo’s overall position in favour of de-escalation and the pursuit of political solutions to the crises affecting the wider region.

President Christodoulides: We have built a stable framework that continues to grow stronger

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides stressed that since 2014 they had built a stable framework that has continued to strengthen.

"It now has strategic depth and is based on a positive approach: stability, security, connectivity and cooperation," he said. The Cypriot president stressed that cooperation between the three countries was deepening and expanding at many levels.

"We had the opportunity to exchange views on the latest developments in the region. Our countries are seeking a peaceful and stable Eastern Mediterranean and wider Middle East, characterised by good-neighbourly relations and respect for international law," he underlined.

Christodoulides said that the Joint Declaration adopted during the trilateral meeting underscored these objectives. Regarding the Palestinian issue, he said they had reaffirmed their longstanding position in favour of a two-state solution. With regard to Gaza, he stressed that Egypt was playing a pivotal role, while Cyprus was stepping up humanitarian assistance. As for Lebanon, he said that support for the country from the three leaders remained strong.

"Cyprus, Greece and Egypt consider freedom of navigation to be a priority, in accordance with international law. Egypt is a key pillar of security and stability in the wider region. Egypt's security and stability are inextricably linked to the stability and security of all the states in the region and, of course, of Europe. We are working towards further EU support for the country. Egypt's strategic importance is understood in Brussels. We welcome the release of the next tranche of financial assistance to Egypt," he continued.

The president of the Republic of Cyprus described President El-Sisi's participation in the first informal summit, held in Nicosia, as historic. "Let me conclude by thanking Egypt for its steadfast and longstanding support for efforts to reunify our homeland on the basis of United Nations resolutions," Christodoulides said in closing.

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​ANAMPA

A meeting held last Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Tirana drew unusual attention, bringing together four of the most prominent political and institutional figures involved in representing Albania’s Greek National Minority. Vasilis Kagios, president of DEEEM–OMONOIA; Vangelis Doules, president of KEAD; Lefteris Nikas, president of MEGA; and Fredi Beleris, a member of the European Parliament, met to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the minority community.

The sight of the four men seated at the same table carried weight well beyond diplomatic protocol. The Greek minority in Albania is confronting a series of long‑standing and increasingly complex challenges, from property disputes and political representation to education, language rights and the preservation of historic Greek communities. With Albania moving along its path toward European integration, questions surrounding minority protection have taken on added significance.

For years, representation of the Greek community has been marked by divergent political strategies and competing priorities, producing a fragmented landscape. The gathering in Tirana suggested a possible shift. It brought together different strands of the organized Greek presence in Albania, alongside the minority’s voice in the European Parliament, signalling at least a tentative willingness to explore common ground.

Beleris’s participation underscored the European dimension of the discussion. Issues affecting the Greek minority are no longer confined to bilateral relations between Athens and Tirana. Albania’s EU aspirations create an additional institutional arena in which concerns about minority rights, the rule of law and adherence to European standards can be raised.

The stakes are particularly high in regions where demographic decline, migration and the erosion of historic Greek communities have accelerated. For many within the minority, the question is: how to ensure the political, social and cultural continuity of Greek life in its traditional heartlands over the coming decades.

The meeting in Tirana does not resolve those questions, but it signals that the need for coordination and a shared approach has returned to the fore. Whether Friday’s discussion marks the beginning of a sustained political effort—or remains a symbolic moment—will depend on what happens next.

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HCRI

In a statement issued to the newspaper To Vima tis Kyriakis, Nikos Dendias, Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic, declared the following:

"The ​“Achilles Shield” is a key pillar of the Armed Forces reform and a necessary response to the geopolitical and technological challenges of our era. It forms part of the “Agenda 2030” reform, through which our Homeland enters a new reality — a new conception of Defence and Deterrence.

The name “Achilles Shield” is not accidental. The shield of the Homeric hero consisted of five successive layers. In the same spirit, the modern Greek “Shield” establishes a multi‑layered architecture for the protection of Greek territory, comprising five levels: sea, land, air, cyberspace, and outer space.

The “Achilles Shield” marks the transition from a collection of weapon systems to a holistic deterrence system. Ships, aircraft, land assets, autonomous systems, new satellites — in essence, every platform equipped with sensors — are integrated into a unified, network‑centric architecture.

At the foundation of this architecture lies a unified Command & Control system, which prioritizes threats, evaluates them, and proposes the optimal response, transforming information into operational capability. With the development of the
“Achilles Shield,” the Fleet’s new ships and the 4.5‑ and 5th‑generation aircraft will no longer be confined to the narrow defence of the Aegean. They will be able to assume a broader deterrent role.

The satellite dimension is also incorporated into the same architecture. The establishment in Greece of one of the two hubs of the European secure governmental satellite communications program, GOVSATCOM, highlights our country’s geopolitical and strategic role as a pillar of security and stability within the European Union. Greece has acquired a fleet of microsatellites and is preparing for its first major geostationary satellite.

Satellite communications constitute an additional layer of the “Achilles Shield.” They represent the extension of our holistic approach into the space domain, which is becoming increasingly important for modern Defence.

At the same time, the “Achilles Shield” is linked to another core choice of “Agenda 2030”: the creation of a modern ecosystem of defence innovation and the strengthening of the Greek defence industry.

A key requirement is the participation of the Greek defence industry at a rate of at least 25% in all armament programs. Particular emphasis is placed on the substantial transfer of know‑how and production into the Greek defence ecosystem, as well as access to the source code of these systems.

The objective is clear: Greece must not remain a passive buyer and user of defence systems. It must participate actively in their design, production, and evolution, reinforcing domestic expertise.

The “Achilles Shield” is a new, holistic approach to the use of weapon systems. It reflects the new reality of “Agenda 2030” and a different conception of our nation’s Defence."


//


Δήλωση του Υπουργού Εθνικής Άμυνας Νίκου Δένδια για την «Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα»

Σε δήλωση που εκδόθηκε στην εφημερίδα Το Βήμα της Κυριακής, ο Υπουργός Εθνικής Άμυνας της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Νίκος Δένδιας, ανέφερε τα εξής:

«Η “Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα” είναι ένας σημαντικός κρίκος της μεταρρύθμισης των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων και μια επιβεβλημένη απάντηση στις γεωπολιτικές και τεχνολογικές προκλήσεις της εποχής μας. Εντάσσεται στη μεταρρύθμιση «Ατζέντα 2030», με την οποία η Πατρίδα μας περνά σε μια νέα πραγματικότητα. Σε μια νέα αντίληψη για την Άμυνα και την Αποτροπή.

Η ονομασία “Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα” δεν έχει επιλεγεί τυχαία. Η ασπίδα του ομηρικού ήρωα είχε πέντε επάλληλα στρώματα. Με την ίδια λογική, η σύγχρονη ελληνική «Ασπίδα» συγκροτεί μια πολυεπίπεδη αρχιτεκτονική προστασίας της ελληνικής επικράτειας και περιλαμβάνει πέντε επίπεδα. Στη θάλασσα, τη στεριά, τον αέρα, τον κυβερνοχώρο, το διάστημα.

Η “Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα” σηματοδοτεί τη μετάβαση από ένα άθροισμα οπλικών συστημάτων σε ένα ολιστικό σύστημα αποτροπής. Τα πλοία, τα αεροσκάφη, τα χερσαία μέσα, τα αυτόνομα συστήματα, οι νέοι δορυφόροι, και γενικότερα, κάθε πλατφόρμα που διαθέτει αισθητήρες, εντάσσονται σε μια ενιαία δικτυοκεντρική αρχιτεκτονική.

Στη βάση αυτής της αρχιτεκτονικής βρίσκεται ένα ενοποιημένο σύστημα Διοίκησης και Ελέγχου (Command & Control), το οποίο προτεραιοποιεί την απειλή, την αξιολογεί και προτείνει τον βέλτιστο τρόπο αντιμετώπισης, μετατρέποντας την πληροφορία σε επιχειρησιακή δυνατότητα. Με την ανάπτυξη της “Ασπίδας του Αχιλλέα”, τα νέα πλοία του Στόλου και τα αεροσκάφη 4,5 και 5ης γενιάς δε θα περιορίζονται στη στενή άμυνα του Αιγαίου. Θα μπορούν να αναλάβουν έναν ευρύτερο αποτρεπτικό ρόλο.

Στην ίδια αρχιτεκτονική εντάσσεται και η δορυφορική διάσταση. Η εγκατάσταση στην Ελλάδα ενός από τους δύο κόμβους του ευρωπαϊκού προγράμματος ασφαλών κυβερνητικών δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών GOVSATCOM αναδεικνύει τον γεωπολιτικό και στρατηγικό ρόλο της χώρας μας ως πυλώνα ασφάλειας και σταθερότητας της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Η Ελλάδα έχει αποκτήσει στόλο μικροδορυφόρων και προετοιμάζεται για τον πρώτο μεγάλο γεωστατικό δορυφόρο της.

Οι δορυφορικές επικοινωνίες αποτελούν επιπλέον διάσταση της “Ασπίδας του Αχιλλέα”. Πρόκειται για την επέκταση της ολιστικής μας προσέγγισης και στο διαστημικό πεδίο, το οποίο αποκτά ολοένα και μεγαλύτερη σημασία για τη σύγχρονη Άμυνα.

Παράλληλα, η “Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα” συνδέεται με μία ακόμη βασική επιλογή της «Ατζέντας 2030»: τη δημιουργία ενός σύγχρονου οικοσυστήματος αμυντικής καινοτομίας και την ενίσχυση της ελληνικής αμυντικής βιομηχανίας.

Προϋπόθεση είναι η συμμετοχή της ελληνικής αμυντικής βιομηχανίας σε ποσοστό τουλάχιστον 25% σε όλα τα εξοπλιστικά προγράμματα. Ιδιαίτερη βαρύτητα αποδίδουμε στην ουσιαστική μεταφορά τεχνογνωσίας και παραγωγής στο ελληνικό αμυντικό οικοσύστημα, καθώς και στην πρόσβαση στον πηγαίο κώδικα των συστημάτων αυτών.

Ο στόχος είναι σαφής: η Ελλάδα να μην παραμένει παθητικός αγοραστής και χρήστης αμυντικών συστημάτων. Να συμμετέχει ενεργά στον σχεδιασμό, στην παραγωγή και στην εξέλιξη αυτών, ενισχύοντας την εγχώρια τεχνογνωσία.

Η “Ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα” είναι μια νέα προσέγγιση χρήσης των οπλικών συστημάτων, με ολιστική διάσταση. Αποτυπώνει τη νέα πραγματικότητα της «Ατζέντας 2030» και μια διαφορετική αντίληψη για την Άμυνα της χώρας».​

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​MINNATDEF;

​​
​By the Hellenic Canadian Research Institute

​Turkey’s announcement on August 15, 2026, of two new "national marine parks" in the northeastern Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean has been presented as an environmental milestone. But anyone who has watched Ankara’s behaviour in the region over the past decades will recognize the pattern immediately. This is not a marine‑protection initiative. It is a jurisdictional manoeuver — a strategic move dressed up in the language of conservation.

The details matter. One of the declared parks stretches from Tekirdağ toward the maritime space between the Greek islands of Samothrace and Lemnos. The other extends from Fethiye and Kaş toward the waters surrounding Kastellorizo, a small Greek island that has become a recurring target of Turkish revisionist claims. These zones reach well beyond Turkey’s territorial waters. They overlap with high‑seas areas and parts of the Greek continental shelf.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), no state can unilaterally impose national jurisdiction on international waters or on another country’s continental shelf. Greece’s Foreign Ministry responded accordingly, stating that the decrees "produce absolutely no legal effect." That assessment is not rhetorical. It is simply what the law says.

But the legal dimension is only half the story. The strategic intent is the other half, and it is impossible to ignore.

Turkey is not a party to UNCLOS and has spent years advancing the "Blue Homeland" doctrine, a maximalist maritime vision that seeks to shrink the maritime zones generated by Greece's islands (as well as the Republic of Cyprus) and expand Turkish influence across the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The placement of these parks is entirely consistent with that doctrine. Kastellorizo has long been a focal point of Ankara’s challenges, and the waters between Lemnos and Samothrace have been contested by successive Turkish governments since the 1970s. These are not environmentally significant areas chosen for ecological reasons. They are politically significant areas chosen for strategic ones.

The risk here is not abstract. If unilateral environmental designations begin functioning as de facto territorial claims, the precedent erodes the foundations of maritime governance. It weakens the credibility of international law, undermines cooperative environmental protection, and rewards states that attempt to bypass legal processes through administrative manoeuvers. Marine conservation should be a domain of science‑based collaboration, not a convenient wrapper for jurisdictional expansion.

It is worth noting that Greece’s own marine parks — established in the Ionian and Aegean Seas — remain fully within Greek territorial waters. That is not a trivial distinction. It reflects a basic principle: environmental stewardship must operate within lawful boundaries, not attempt to redraw them.

Turkey’s move also carries major consequences as it injects tension into an already sensitive region, complicates NATO cohesion, and undermines efforts to stabilize Greek‑Turkish relations. At a moment when regional security requires predictability, Ankara’s unilateralism introduces uncertainty and avoidable friction. The use of environmental policy as a geopolitical instrument is not merely provocative, it is destabilizing.

Greece is entering a new phase in its long and complicated relationship with Turkey, one defined less by the “calm waters” of recent years and more by a deliberate effort to project confidence, military readiness and diplomatic reach. In an interview with the Greek newspaper To Vima Tis Kyriakis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said the period of reduced tensions was never meant to be permanent. Instead, it served as a strategic pause that allowed Athens to rebuild its capabilities and reposition itself in a volatile region.

“Calm waters are not an end in themselves,” he told To Vima. “They are a means to serve our national objectives.”

According to Gerapetritis, the de‑escalation period produced measurable gains. Airspace violations dropped, migration flows stabilized and the islands of the Eastern Aegean saw economic relief. More importantly, he argues, Greece used the time to strengthen its alliances and modernize its armed forces—steps he believes now place the country “at the height of its international influence.”

A Defence Posture Rebuilt

Greece’s military, weakened during the Greek financial crisis of 2009-2018, has undergone a significant overhaul. The country has acquired Rafale fighter jets, upgraded its fleet of F‑16s, commissioned new Belharra frigates and is preparing for the arrival of F‑35 aircraft. Gerapetritis says these investments have shifted the balance in the Aegean. “Our forces are now in a position of superiority in air and sea,” he said.

The modernization is meant to deter unilateral actions by Turkey, which has expanded its defence industry and maintains military footprints in Libya and Syria. Ankara’s regional ambitions, including its promotion of the “Blue Homeland” doctrine, continue to shape the strategic environment.

The Athens Declaration Under Strain

The Athens Declaration, launched in 2023 to stabilize relations with Turkey through a structured three‑pillar dialogue, is now under pressure. Ankara’s recent moves—including new maritime claims and the announcement of two “environmental parks” extending into waters Greece considers part of its continental shelf—have raised questions about the viability of the framework.

Gerapetritis rejects the idea that the declaration is defunct. “In a volatile international environment, it is important to have a clear framework for peaceful resolution,” he said. He noted that the declaration marked the first time Turkey explicitly accepted globally recognized principles of international law.

Still, he was unequivocal about the new Turkish maritime parks initiative. The parks, he said, are “illegal” and “produce no legal effect,” adding that the decrees establishing them contain “only coordinates, not environmental protections.” Any attempt to infringe on Greek sovereign rights, he warned, would be met “with every appropriate means.”

Greece’s Maritime Strategy

Athens has advanced its own maritime agenda, completing its first comprehensive Maritime Spatial Plan and designating two new National Marine Parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. These initiatives impose environmental restrictions on navigation and fishing, but they also serve a strategic purpose: documenting Greece’s maritime zones in a manner consistent with international law.

Critics argue that Greece limited itself to six nautical miles while Turkey extended its claims into international waters. Gerapetritis dismissed the comparison. “International law is not applied à la carte,” he said, framing Greece’s adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a long‑term investment in legal credibility.

Strategic Partnerships Beyond the Aegean

Greece has deepened ties with Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, while maintaining strong relations with the United States and France. Gerapetritis described Greece as a net provider of regional security, pointing to its leadership roles in EU naval missions in the Red Sea and Central Mediterranean.

He also highlighted the Greece‑Cyprus electricity interconnection project, recently strengthened by French investor Meridiam, as evidence of growing European involvement in Eastern Mediterranean energy infrastructure.

A More Confident Greece

Gerapetritis insists that Greece’s foreign policy is sovereign and proactive. “The era of passive diplomatic inertia is over,” he said. “It has been replaced by an era of confidence and initiative.” As tensions with Turkey re‑emerge, Greece appears determined to anchor its strategy in international law, strengthened alliances and a modernized defence posture—while keeping diplomatic channels open, but firmly structured.

To read the full interview in Greek, click here.

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HCRI w/ notes from the CFR; MFAHR; NORDMON; IRIS; EKATH; PMHR; FDLMB; UN.

The Municipal Art Gallery of Aegina is presenting the major group ceramics exhibition "CHOMA" (Soil/Earth), (until August 23, 2026) conceived and curated by Iris Kritikou. Τhe exhibition offers a broad survey of the contemporary landscape of Greek ceramic art. The 80 participating artists present works that draw subtle references to primitive vessels, non-figurative prehistoric pottery, ancient votive and utilitarian ceramics, as well as the lustrous surfaces of ceramic vessels from other cultures. Other works engage in aesthetic dialogue with modern Greek art and contemporary international art. Above all, however, the exhibition showcases works distinguished by the originality of their conception and execution, affirming ceramics’ enduring ability to move audiences and to stand as a major art form—one with deep historical roots, rich modern traditions, and limitless potential for innovation and artistic expression.

(Upper photo: Aegina: https://www.discovergreece.com/attica/aegina)
(Lower photo: ceramic work by Nikos Ghikas)

SPETSES

The Anargyros Art Residency on Spetses has quickly established itself as one of Greece’s most inspiring artist residency programmes. Set within the historic grounds of the Anargyrios and Korgialenios School of Spetses (AKSS), a former boarding school overlooking the sea, it offers artists a unique environment in which to live, create and exchange ideas. Under the artistic direction of Eva Vaslamatzi and the coordination of Simoni Niarou, the residency fosters dialogue among participants and the local community. This year’s edition, centred on the theme of animism, transforms the school’s remarkable setting into a vibrant space where history, nature and contemporary artistic practice converge. The contemporary art exhibition "Insular Animisms" (until August 30, 2026) at the AKSS is the outcome of the Anargyros Art Residency. The exhibition features works by six international artists working across visual arts, film, dance, and music in Building A of the School.

(Upper photo: Spetses: https://www.discovergreece.com/attica/spetses)
(Lower photo left: Exhibition showcasing works by four photographers, "Photo Capsule")
(Lower photo right: Nona Inescu, "Things not generally known")

SKIATHOS

​The recently restored Monastery of Panagia Eikonistria on Skiathos is hosting the group exhibition "In the Shadow of the Pines", curated by archaeologist and art historian Iris Kritikou (until November 9, 2026). The exhibition’s title is drawn from a recurring literary motif and symbolic landscape in the work of Alexandros Papadiamantis, Skiathos' celebrated novelist and one of Greece’s greatest writers. Papadiamantis’s writing is deeply intertwined with the island’s natural world, evoking the fragrance, atmosphere, and spiritual serenity of its pine forests through an early, remarkably holistic ecological vision that approaches the sublime. Through their works, the participating artists pay tribute to Skiathos, creating a visual psychogeography of the island that resonates profoundly within the monastery’s evocative setting.

(Upper photo: Skiathos: https://www.discovergreece.com/thessaly-sporades/skiathos)
(Lower photo: Art piece by Iliana Paloglou)

IOS

The group exhibition ΓΑΙΑ/GAIA at the Gaïtis–Simossi Museum on Ios (August 1- October 19, 2026) explores the concept of the Earth as a mythological, natural and cultural entity. It develops two parallel narratives that intersect at a common point of reflection: humanity’s relationship with the natural world and the consequences of the ever-increasing disruption of that relationship. The choice of a Cycladic island – and specifically Ios – as the venue for this exhibition lends an additional layer of meaning to it. The Cyclades form a landscape where the presence of the Earth is instantly felt through the geomorphology, rock formations, intense light, and constant interplay between land and sea. From the prehistoric civilizations of the Aegean to the present day, the islands have fostered a unique relationship between humans and the natural environment, a relationship linked to memory, survival, creation and transformation. In the Cyclades, Gaia is not merely a mythological figure but, rather, a lived reality inscribed in the landscape itself and in the cultural identity of the land.

(Upper photo: Chora, Ios: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/ios)​
(Lower photo: Nikos Tranos, from the installation Terrain (Horse Bit – Bridle), 2015–2026)

SANTORINI

The Tomato Industrial Museum "D. Nomikos" on Santorini, co-organises with the Theran Society of Arts and Sciences and in collaboration with the Cycladic Identity Initiative of the Museum of Cycladic Art, the exhibition "INDUSTRIANA: The industrial heritage of Santorini and Therasia" (until October 31, 2026). Through raw materials, production facilities, industrial machinery and personal testimonies, the exhibition explores the artisanal, pre-industrial and industrial history of Santorini and Therasia. The museum narrative is supported by historical records, preserved artefacts, contemporary documentation and interviews with former workers. The initiative was born out of the organisers' commitment to preserving the memories of the region’s inactive industrial heritage before they are lost.

(Upper photo: Fyra, Santorini: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/santorini)

And after immersing yourself in the world of art, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the idyllic beaches of the Greek islands

​The Digital Management of the Archive of the Hellenic Institute for Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies of Venice has recently been completed and is already operating through the digital infrastructure of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, making it accessible to a global audience. It offers free access to an invaluable treasury of materials—including registers, documents, heirlooms, icons, works of art, miniatures, manuscripts, and early printed books—and sheds light on the historical trajectory of the Greek diaspora from the 15th to the 20th century.

​As was emphasized during the events held following the completion of the project, the Archive of the Greek Community, and later the Archive of the Hellenic Institute of Venice, constitutes one of the most valuable cultural assets to have been digitized in recent years. The archival holdings date from 1498 to 1954 and document the history of the Greek Brotherhood in the city of the lagoons, as well as that of the broader Greek population under Venetian rule. These records, however, are far more than the documentation of routine administrative procedures—they are living history.

Thirteen years after the Fall of Constantinople (1453), the great wave of exodus from the Byzantine capital—a migration that would permanently alter the course of European history—carried thousands of scholars, philosophers, and theologians to the Italian peninsula. They brought with them precious ancient Greek manuscripts in what may be regarded as the first great “brain drain” to the West. They were followed by heirs of the Byzantine Empire, architects and mosaic artists, painters, craftsmen, aristocrats, members of the imperial court, descendants of noble families, former soldiers, and many others. Venice became their principal destination, owing both to its extensive maritime trade network and to the presence of an already established Greek confraternity. This community would soon develop into one of the most important strongholds of the Greek diaspora and the foremost center of Hellenism in Italy before the Greek War of Independence of 1821.

The formal establishment of the first Greek Community in Venice in 1498, at a time when approximately 5,000 Greeks lived in the city, and the construction of the Orthodox Church of St. George a few decades later, mark what historians describe as a milestone in the history of Hellenism. It was the first organized Greek community, founded some 333 years before the establishment of the modern Greek state.

The reconstruction of the Church of St. George began in 1536, on land purchased a few years earlier by the Greeks of Venice and was completed in 1577. The work was supervised by the architects Sante Lombardo and Zuanantonio Chiona, while the well-known architect Andrea Palladio was the consultant for the construction of the women’s balcony. The church was decorated with icons brought by refugees from Constantinople, such as the Grand Duchess Anna Paleologina Notara, but also from other regions, with works by important painters such as Michael Damaskinos, Emmanuel Tzanes Bounialis, Thomas Bathas and others. The illustration of the dome was entrusted to John the Cyprian, who worked under the supervision of the remarkable Venetian painter Jacopo Tintoretto.

For five centuries, the Greeks of Venice have maintained a continuous presence, preserving the language, the faith, the educational tradition, and the identity of Hellenism. From the late fifteenth century onward, they played an active role in every major period of the nation’s history. Following the end of the Second World War, the movable and immovable property of the Greek Community, together with its few remaining descendants, was transferred to the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice. Today, the Institute stands as the historical continuation of that Community, preserving its legacy across both time and place.
​

The Institute’s Digital Repository now presents to the world hundreds of its rare printed books, most of them in Greek (148), Italian (123), Latin (105), and French (81). As reported to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), the program coordinator, Professor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Christos Arabatzis, stated that a total of 140,000 documented records are now accessible in high resolution and with thorough documentation to every student, specialized researcher, and interested citizen. This includes approximately 1,000,000 digital images, 10,000 items of images and ecclesiastical artifacts, 1,000 rare printed books, and 47 valuable Byzantine manuscripts. An important aspect of the program was the development of applications with a clear educational orientation. "Students and university learners no longer study copies or editions—they work essentially with the original sources themselves, in their physical form and chronological sequence." He added that "the completion of the project represents an important step in linking Greek cultural institutions with corresponding European programs that are gradually being integrated into Europeana."
​

​"The Digital Management of the Venetian Archive is a project of exceptional scholarly and national importance," Professor Stratos Stylianidis, former Vice Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA). "It brings to light," he added, "through the use of advanced digital technologies, an invaluable archival heritage of Hellenism. It constitutes a unique testament to the historical memory, intellectual continuity, and cultural presence of the Greeks within the European world." According to Professor Stylianidis, a faculty member of the Faculty of Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Vice President of the International Scientific Committee for Heritage Documentation (CIPA – Heritage Documentation), the digital management, documentation, and dissemination of the archive "are far more than a technological intervention. They represent an act of safeguarding our collective memory and an investment in future research, education, and the dissemination of cultural heritage."

​Occupying a place of distinction in the new digital portal—as in the cultural heritage of the Greek Community as a whole—is the Alexander Romance, the celebrated and uniquely illustrated fourteenth-century Byzantine manuscript by Michael Damaskinos, Theodoros Poulakis, and the Cretan School (Codex 5, Narrative of Alexander, Pseudo-Callisthenes). The manuscript contains 250 remarkable miniatures embellished with gold leaf, depicting—and imaginatively narrating—the life and legendary exploits of Alexander the Great. Comprising 193 parchment folios bound into twenty-three quires (measuring approximately 32 × 24 cm), the codex recounts the principal events of Alexander’s life. He is portrayed not merely as the ancient Macedonian king but as a Byzantine emperor and protector, embodying the cultural legacy of Hellenism while leading campaigns beyond the boundaries of his empire as both a military leader and a just ruler. The Alexander Romance is a work of imaginative literature that achieved worldwide renown and has been translated into eleven languages. The manuscript’s extraordinary illustrations vividly portray Alexander’s birth and upbringing, his military campaigns, battles, sieges, encounters with foreign rulers, and his death. It is also presented on the digital platform through an interactive application. The Institute also preserves a further forty-seven manuscript books, forty of them in Greek, all of which have now been digitized in their entirety.
​

At the top of the digitized and documented images and artifacts are the works of Michael Damaskinos, the distinguished Cretan painter of the 16th century, who managed to ideally combine the strict Byzantine tradition (maniera greca) with the innovations of the Italian Renaissance and the Venetian School (maniera latina) during the period he lived in Venice. The digital archive also presents the entire collection of Orthodox art inherited by the Institute from the Greek Community. This includes masterpieces of Byzantine iconography, such as the icons brought from Constantinople in the 15th century by Anna Palaiologina Notaras, as well as dozens of works by well-known painters: Georgios Klontzas, Emmanuel Lambardos, Victor (painter), Franghias Kavertzas, Theodoros Poulakis, Ioannis Moskos, and Emmanuel Tzanes and Konstantinos Tzanes, among others. This collection allows every visitor to follow the evolution of Cretan painting from the 15th to the 17th century and to be taken on a journey from Byzantium to Crete and Corfu during those centuries. Also available on the same website are impressive icons by unknown artists, such as The Descent into Hades (late 14th  century, unknown Constantinopolitan painter), The Dormition of the Virgin (second half of the 15th century, unknown painter from a Cretan workshop), and The Ascension (second half of the 15th century, unknown painter from Candia).
​

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GNA; AMNA; YT:ARL

​A new chapter in the development of European cybersecurity policy has begun with the official establishment of the Cybersecurity Skills Coalition European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (CSC-EDIC). Announced in Brussels by Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen during the Digital Skills EU Days 2026, the CSC-EDIC will have its seat in Athens, with Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia coming together as founding members. Czechia and Poland have joined as observers. Other Member States will be able to join at any time under fair and reasonable terms. The consortium aims to become the European Union’s primary mechanism for developing a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce across all Member States.

Greece’s active participation in shaping this new European initiative is particularly significant. According to the National Cybersecurity Authority, Greece is among the founding Member States of CSC-EDIC and participated in every stage of its preparation—from designing the institutional framework to developing the consortium’s strategic direction. The Greek authority also played a coordinating role during the preparatory phase, contributing to the design and architecture of this new European initiative.

​The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCSA) of Greece aims to organize, coordinate and implement a comprehensive framework of strategies, measures and actions for achieving and maintaining a high level of prevention, protection, deterrence, response and recovery from cyberattacks. To fulfill its purpose, the Authority develops comprehensive cybersecurity policies framework and draws the National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCSS) through which the strategic objectives, the priorities and the cybersecurity governance framework are defined. At the national level, NCSA is the leading authority in the cybersecurity domain implementing a whole of government approach. The Authority is responsible for issuing mandatory cybersecurity requirements for essential and important entities, as well as guidance of implementation and it is the competent authority to monitor compliance with the cybersecurity legislation. It fosters cooperation and coordination between governmental agencies and between the public and private sector. The Authority cooperates with EU agencies, other member states’ entities and communicates and exchanges expertise with international bodies and organizations as well as allied countries.

Addressing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The creation of CSC-EDIC is intended to tackle one of the European Union’s most pressing challenges: the growing shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals. As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated and digital infrastructure grows ever more critical to the economy, public administration, and defense, developing a highly skilled workforce has emerged as a strategic priority for Europe’s competitiveness and resilience. In this context, the new consortium is expected to serve as the operational arm of the European Cybersecurity Skills Academy, gradually assuming responsibility for key initiatives related to education, reskilling, upskilling, and closer collaboration among governments, universities, businesses, and public-sector organizations. As a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC), CSC-EDIC provides a permanent institutional framework for cross-border cooperation, enabling participating countries to jointly develop projects, pool resources, and consolidate expertise at the European level.
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The CSC-EDIC will play a key role in the implementation of the EU’s Cybersecurity Skills Academy, a flagship cybersecurity skills initiative launched by the Commission in 2023. Since launching, the Cybersecurity Skills Academy has resulted in 26 pledges from global industry leaders who have helped to train more than 900,000 cyber professionals, while ten partnerships have been established through the Industry-Academia Network.
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​The Cybersecurity Skills Academy has helped expand the uptake of ENISA’s European Cybersecurity Skills Framework among industry. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, ENISA, maintains its official seat in Greece, operating from headquarters in Athens and an office in Heraklion, Crete. Established in 2004, this pivotal institution strengthens Europe’s collective digital resilience against evolving online threats .The agency achieves this by developing standardized cybersecurity certification frameworks for ICT products, analyzing global threat landscapes, and fostering cooperation among member states. Additionally, ENISA coordinates large-scale cyber crisis exercises to prepare nations for emergencies.
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​Greece’s Role

The Greek government believes that participation in CSC-EDIC strengthens the country’s position on the European cybersecurity landscape—not merely as a recipient of European policies but as an active contributor to their design. For Greece, active participation in this new European structure represents both recognition of the expertise it has developed in cybersecurity in recent years and an opportunity to further strengthen its influence on European digital security policy. At a time when protecting critical digital infrastructure has become a matter of strategic importance, developing specialized cybersecurity skills is increasingly recognized as a key driver of Europe’s resilience and global competitiveness.

The Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Michalis Bletsas, described the establishment of the consortium as the culmination of years of collective European effort. He emphasized that developing cybersecurity skills is essential for effectively addressing the constantly evolving cyber threat landscape, adding that investment in education and continuous professional training is a cornerstone of Europe’s digital security strategy.

​Similarly, Ioannis Alexakis, Director General for Strategic Planning at the National Cybersecurity Authority, noted that through CSC-EDIC—and in collaboration with leading Greek universities, including the Athens University of Economics and Business, the University of Piraeus, the University of Macedonia, and the Ionian University—Greece aims to play a leading role in advancing European cybersecurity skills. These efforts will also contribute to establishing the European Cybersecurity Academy, which will be headquartered in Athens.

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​EUCOMM; AMNA; ERT

This year, the Slaughterhouse Project on Hydra by DESTE FOUNDATION feature "Until That Day", an exhibition by Nari Ward (b. 1963, St. Andrew, Jamaica; lives and works in New York), who is renowned for his sculptural installations composed of discarded material found and collected in his neighborhood (until October 31, 2026).  By re-contextualizing these found objects, Ward creates thought-provoking juxtapositions that address social and political issues surrounding race, poverty, and consumer culture.

Visual artist Dimitris Antonitsis has organized the group exhibition "Hydor/Onar (Water of Dreams)" at Hydra School Projects (until September 6, 2026). The exhibition is the second chapter of a trilogy exploring the work of artists whose practices revolve around themes such as water, transformation, memory, and dreamlike states. Set against Hydra’s luminous landscape, it examines the ways in which artistic creation emerges through intuition and instinct rather than certainty. At the heart of this ongoing trilogy is an artistic dialogue between two iconic figures whose lives and work were profoundly shaped by Hydra: Brice Marden and Jannis Kounellis.

Two elements of nature, two opposing worlds, come together to shape the universe of the exhibition "Of Ether and Sea", featuring works by sculptor Venia Dimitrakopoulou, at the Hydra Historical Archive–Museum (until September 14, 2026). Hybrid forms—fragments of creatures that seem to belong simultaneously to the sea and the sky—emerge from the surface of marble in the new works of the acclaimed sculptor.

(Upper photo Hydra: https://www.discovergreece.com/attica/hydra)
(Middle photo left: Installation view, photo by Pinelopi Gerasimou for DESTE).
(Middle photo right: Styliane Philippou’s marble sculpture, photo by Pinelopi Gerasimou for Hydra School Projects)
(Lower photo: Venia Dimitrakopoulou, «Anadyomene»)

RHODES

This summer, the second edition of the Biennale of Contemporary Keramics (BCK) takes place in the Medieval City of Rhodes (until October 31, 2026). Titled "Where the Day Starts", the biennial transforms the island into an international meeting point for contemporary ceramic art. Spread across five landmark historic venues within the Medieval City, this year’s edition brings together 42 artists from 18 countries, presenting a rich spectrum of contemporary practices and artistic approaches. Through its central exhibition and an extensive programme of events, BCK 2026 highlights contemporary ceramics as a dynamic and evolving medium of artistic expression, while also positioning it as a vital vehicle for intercultural dialogue across the Mediterranean.

(Upper photo: Lindos, Rhodes: https://www.discovergreece.com/dodecanese/rhodes)
(Lower photo: Asunción Molinos Gordo, ¡Cuánto río allá arriba!)

LESVOS

K-Gold Temporary Gallery on Lesvos presents the group exhibition "Spectral",  curated by Nikolaos Vamvouklis, and bringing together new and historical works by artists from different disciplines and placing the visual arts in dialogue with photography, dance, and fashion (until September 6, 2026). The exhibition explores how presence and absence can coexist within the same space. It is an attempt to understand these concepts by giving form to what cannot easily be seen or named: the other, the invisible, the unspeakable. And while memory does not retrieve a fixed image but instead often introduces a fracture into what we perceive as familiar, the exhibition approaches this fluid terrain not only as an atmosphere but also as a gesture. At the same time, K-Gold Temporary Gallery presents its annual exhibition "Re-Collection", featuring works from its collection alongside material developed through projects on the island of Lesvos. The selection highlights artistic collaborations that have evolved since the organization’s founding in 2014, proposing new encounters and fresh interpretations.

(Upper photo: Lesvos (Mytilene): https://www.discovergreece.com/north-aegean-islands/lesvos)
(Lower photo: Bas Jan Ader, Please don’t leave me, 1969, House paint, lightbulbs, wire, dimensions variable, Courtesy of Meliksetian | Briggs, Dallas & Los Angeles)

RETHYMNO, CRETE

Visitors to Rethymno, Crete, this summer will have the opportunity to see the retrospective exhibition "The Brittle Trace of Symbols" by Rethymno-born artist Nikos Alexiou (1960–2011) at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete (until November 6, 2026). The exhibition aims to illuminate key moments from the celebrated artist's career, whose practice was rooted in memory—from his childhood blanket to Mount Athos, where he spent an extended period of his life. These personal references are interwoven with countless symbolic "roles," while his meticulous attention to detail shapes a body of work in which innocence is constantly shadowed by tragedy. Reeds and twine, or delicate sheets of paper, appear perfectly balanced yet remain vulnerable, as though they could be destroyed by the slightest careless movement. The exhibition is curated by Maria Marangou.

(Upper photo: Rethymno, Crete: https://www.discovergreece.com/crete/rethymno)
(Lower photo: Nikos Alexiou Drawers, photo credit: Popi Alexiou)

CHANIA, CRETE

More than 150 paintings, installations, animations, comics, sculptures, notes, and preparatory sketches by Alexandros Psychoulis are on view in his new exhibition, "Runaway thoughts were my only danger", at the Municipal Art Gallery of Chania (until October 4, 2026). Rather than following the linear narrative of a conventional retrospective, the exhibition highlights the artist's pioneering contribution to contemporary Greek art, shaped by the influence of mass media, commercial television, new technologies, computers, pop culture, music, comics, graphic design, fashion, design, and architecture. At the same time, it brings into focus the defining threads of Psychoulis's practice: the visual language that runs through and unifies his work, and the interplay between handcrafted techniques and technological mediation. The exhibition is curated by Christoforos Marinos.

(Upper photo: The Venetian port of Chania, Crete: https://www.discovergreece.com/crete/chania)
(Lower photo: Alexandros Psychoulis, Meristomatrix, 2011, 70 x 100 cm, ballpoint pen on paper, a.antonopoulou.art)

And after immersing yourself in the world of art, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the idyllic beaches of the Greek islands

The AFI Collective brings together seven accomplished artists who, working with a wide range of materials—including paint, brushes, wood, iron, clay, handmade paper, thread, and fabric—and embracing the principles of slow making, translate ideas and traditional craft techniques into a contemporary visual language. Their new exhibition "synAFI" at the historic Bazeos Tower on Naxos (until September 27, 2026) moves beyond a straightforward presentation of artworks, opening instead a meaningful dialogue with the monument’s handcrafted, sculptural architecture. In doing so, it proposes an alternative yet harmonious way of inhabiting the space—one that is both multisensory and multidimensional. The Naxos Festival, in the Bazeos Tower (lower photo right), began in the summer of 2001, as a bold and imaginative idea to transform an exceptional preserved monument, of the 17th century, into the current analogue of the function for which it was built: a temple of art, education and culture.

(Upper photo: Chora, Naxos: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/naxos)
(Lower photo left: work by Inger Carlsson; Lower photo right: The Bazeos Tower)

AMORGOS

​"Mnemosyne" is a curatorial concept unfolding across the island of Amorgos, spanning three distinct locations from north to south through three interconnected exhibitions that invite visitors to journey across the island by way of memory, landscape, and the natural elements (July–August). Each exhibition explores a different facet of the overarching theme and can be experienced independently, while together they form a broader narrative linking water, place, time, and human experience. The journey begins in Aegiali with "Remembrance," continues in Chora with "Whispers of Water," an encounter between painting and ceramics that examines water as a force of transformation, and concludes in Kolofana with "Memory," bringing together artists from a range of disciplines.

(Upper photo: Chora, Amorgos: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/amorgos)

TINOS

The Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation presents the solo exhibition by Argiris Rallias titled "Litany" in the Museum of Marble Crafts in Pyrgos on Tinos (until November 30, 2026). The exhibition, curated by Christoforos Marinos, takes place in a venue dedicated to marble craftsmanship on Tinos and the connection of this precious material to labour, worship, community and everyday life. In Pyrgos, a land with a strong tradition in the art of marble, Rallias’s sculpture meets the long history of local craftsmen, merging technical knowledge with creation. The exhibition’s title alludes to the litany as the movement of a community around something that transcends it. In Rallias’s work, this community includes people, animals, the dead, the relatives, objects and the landscape itself. Each sculpture carries a plea, a loss, a small request for protection (photo lower left).

The Cultural Foundation of Tinos presents this summer the painting exhibition "From Chaos to Cosmos", featuring works by Anna Maria Tsakali and Edouardos Sakayan (photo lower right). Conceived as a creative dialogue between two leading figures of the contemporary Greek art scene, the exhibition brings together their distinct painterly languages to engage with the existential, social, and ecological questions of our time (until August 23, 2026).

(Upper photo: Dovecoats, a feature of the Tinos landscape considered some of the most impressive works of art in the Cyclades: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/tinos)

CHIOS

​The Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation presents the temporary photography exhibition by Giorgos Tatakis titled "Caryatis IV | Chios" in the Chios Mastic Museum (until December 31, 2026). The exhibition includes thirty-six photographs in black and white, selected from numerous images captured by Tatakis on Chios (lower photo George Tatakis, Chios island, Mastichochorea, Olympoi, 2021). They depict women of various generations in landscapes, settlements and historical buildings on the island. Having documented traditional costumes and their variations from twenty-one villages of Chios, Tatakis points out: "In all my travels, I have never encountered another place with such an extraordinary diversity of traditional costumes. Chios, with its exceptional textile production and unparalleled quality of fabrics, combined with the prosperity ensured by commerce, gave rise to this remarkable variety of attire. Villagers in settlements located very close to each other sought to display their wealth by distinguishing themselves from their neighbours, and so, each village developed its own distinctive attire."

(Upper photo: Chios, The Mastic Villages: https://www.discovergreece.com/north-aegean-islands/chios)

SYROS

The Municipality of Syros–Ermoupolis presents the group exhibition of contemporary art "Metoikoi – Transition, Integration, Creation", hosted at the Cyclades Art Gallery from 1 to 30 August 2026. The exhibition brings together works by distinguished Greek visual artists (Daskalakis, Georgiou, Manousakis, Sakayan, Misouras, Giannakaki, Rorris, Filopoulou, Ragkou, Tzamouranis, Lappas, and Samios) and develops a creative artistic dialogue with the history, identity, and cultural heritage of Ermoupolis.  The Cyclades Art Gallery (photo lower right) has been housed since 1994 in four of the former transit warehouses on the northern quay of the port of Syros, in Ermoupolis. The warehouses were built between 1834 and 1839 based on designs by the Bavarian architect Johann Erlacher, who accompanied King Otto, and were among the earliest buildings constructed in Ermoupolis. 2026 is a truly special year as Syros  honor the 200th anniversary of its city’s naming, Ermoupolis. The annual cultural program of the Municipality of Syros-Ermoupolis unfolds before you as a celebration of memory, creativity, and culture (photo lower left). Through a rich program of concerts, theatrical performances, art exhibitions, and activities for all ages, Syros transforms into a meeting point for arts and culture.

(Upper photo: Vaporia District, Ermoupolis, Syros: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/syros)

​And after immersing yourself in the world of art, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the idyllic beaches of the Greek islands

Summer in Greece is synonymous with sunshine, the sea, and a vibrant cultural scene. This season, island escapes and visits to historic destinations offer more than breathtaking landscapes: they also provide the opportunity to discover some of the year’s most exciting art exhibitions. From landmark retrospectives of acclaimed artists to innovative group shows in remarkable heritage sites, here is a small selection of exhibitions not to miss during your summer travels through the Greek islands. Take a deep breath—and dream!

ANDROS

The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation presents at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Andros a tribute to Germaine Richier (1902-1959), one of the most important figures in 20th century European sculpture, titled “Germaine Richier (1902-1959) – Conversations” (until September 27, 2026). The exhibition retraces the entirety of Richier’s artistic career; despite her premature death at the age of 57, she left behind a remarkably coherent body of work devoted entirely to the exploration of living forms. The exhibition also features a reconstruction of Richier’s studio and highlights her work in printmaking.

(Photo on the left: Chrora, Andros: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/andros)

PAROS

As part of the cultural program of Paros Park, the "Porto Aoussa Art Space" in Naoussa*, Paros, hosts the exhibition “Memories from the Aegean” by internationally renowned photographer Robert A. McCabe (until September 30, 2026). The exhibition features 82 selected photographs, personally chosen by the artist specifically for Paros. Through McCabe’s lens, visitors journey across the Aegean islands from the 1950s to the late 1970s, discovering a Greece that existed before the tourism boom and the arrival of modern transportation. His photographs capture people who are humble yet proud, living and working within an authentic, unpretentious landscape. At the same time, the photographs reveal the innocence of islands such as Paros, Mykonos, and Santorini, long before they evolved into the cosmopolitan destinations they are today.

(Upper photo: Naoussa, Paros: https://www.discovergreece.com/cyclades/paros)
* Note: Naoussa in Paros is also spelled with one "s" as Naousa.

POROS

The Citronne Gallery on Poros island presents two solo exhibitions: “The Game of Emergence” by Aphrodite Liti (lower photo left, until September 13, 2026) and “Traces” by Nikos Podias (lower photo right, until September 30, 2026), the latter organized in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands. Aphrodite Liti sets up a sculptural world where sea, memory and myth fuse into a single spatial experience. A contemporary conceptual practice emerges as the artist creates an open field of relations and interactions—between the art and the setting, matter and light, the natural and the artificial, the familiar and the surreal. She employs reflection, scale and transformation to correlate nature, myth and dream. Nikos Podias collects mundane materials and reworks them into precious, almost votive objects. Fragile matter—paper, teabags, tin foil—comes into the Archaeological Museum of Poros to meet the sturdiness of marble, the hardness of metal and the earthly density of clay.

(Upper photo: Poros: https://www.discovergreece.com/attica/poros)

SAMOS

The group exhibition “Fragments and Futures”, presented at Art Space Pythagorion (until October 2, 2026), the exhibition venue of the Schwarz Foundation on Samos, brings together contemporary artists whose work engages with the visual languages, material remains, and mythic narratives of classical archaeology. Through painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and digital media, these artists reconsider how ancient forms and artefacts continue to shape our cultural imagination. The exhibition asks: What does it mean to “unearth” the past today? How do contemporary artists reinterpret the ruins and relics of antiquity in light of present-day questions about identity, heritage, and historical narrative? Rather than treating classical archaeology as a fixed canon of beauty and order, the exhibition foregrounds it as a site of active interpretation. The exhibition is curated by Katerina Gregos and Ioli Tzanetaki.

(Upper photo: Pythagorio, Samos: https://www.discovergreece.com/north-aegean-islands/samos)
(Lower photo: Lucia Tallová, From the series "Unstable Monuments", 2023)

CORFU

​The National Gallery’s Corfu Annex presents the exhibition ”Alekos Fassianos. Under the Summer Sun” (until January 11, 2027). The poetic gaze of Alekos Fassianos unfolds through figures, colours, and moments inspired by everyday life and memory. Bringing together 46 works – including oils, acrylics, and prints – the exhibition offers a representative overview of the artist’s creative journey. The featured pieces are drawn from the collections of the National Gallery, the Alekos Fassianos Museum, and private collections, spanning nearly six decades of his artistic production. Together, they highlight both the consistency and the evolution of Fassianos’s practice, alongside his singular ability to transform life’s “small, ordinary” moments into images full of life and intensity.

​(Upper photo: Corfu: https://www.discovergreece.com/ionian-islands/corfu)
(Lower photo: Alekos Fassianos (1935 – 2022), Set for the Play “Let’s go for a Walk”, Oil on canvas, 300 x 400 cm, National Gallery)

And after immersing yourself in the world of art, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the idyllic beaches of the Greek islands

The Greek government has taken a significant step toward advancing a long‑planned electricity interconnection between Greece and Cyprus, signing a series of agreements that bring one of Europe’s largest infrastructure investors into the project. In a ceremony at the Maximos Mansion on August 5, 2026, and in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French investment group Meridiam formally became the majority shareholder in the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), the special‑purpose company tasked with developing the subsea link.

The deal marks a turning point for the project, which has been discussed for more than a decade but struggled to secure the capital and technical partnerships needed to move forward. Meridiam’s entry is expected to strengthen the project’s financial base and accelerate its development, offering what the Prime Minister described as a “strong vote of confidence” in Greece’s energy sector and in the strategic value of the interconnection.

A second agreement was signed between the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO), GSI and French cable manufacturer Nexans, covering seabed survey work for the planned route. These surveys represent the first major technical milestone and will determine the precise path of the high‑voltage subsea cable connecting the two countries.

In remarks following the signing, Mr. Mitsotakis framed the development as a milestone not only for Greece and Cyprus but for Europe’s broader energy security. He emphasized that the partnership brings together complementary strengths: IPTO’s experience in delivering complex interconnections—most recently the Athens–Crete link—and Meridiam’s international track record in long‑term infrastructure investment. The combination, he said, creates a “much more credible platform” for the project’s construction and eventual completion.

​Although Meridiam becomes the majority shareholder, IPTO will remain a strategic partner, ensuring continuity and technical oversight. The Prime Minister noted that the strengthened capital base and clearer allocation of responsibilities improve the project’s ability to proceed at pace after months of negotiations aimed at securing international participation.

Beyond its technical and financial dimensions, the Great Sea Interconnector carries geopolitical weight. Cyprus remains the only EU member state without an electricity connection to the continental grid, a vulnerability that limits its ability to integrate renewable energy and exposes it to higher energy costs. The Greece–Cyprus link is expected to end that isolation, support regional grid stability and contribute to Europe’s long‑term energy resilience.

Mr. Mitsotakis also cast the investment as evidence of Greece’s growing ability to attract major international players to strategic infrastructure projects. He described Meridiam as one of Europe’s most prominent investors in the sector and said the timing is right for reinforcing the interconnection with global capital and expertise. Concluding his remarks, he congratulated all parties involved and expressed confidence that the agreements signed in Athens will accelerate the project’s progress.

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HCRI; w/ notes from GNA and AMNA