Editing Greece (section)

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Greece}}
[[File:Foreign relations of Greece.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5 |Representation through:<ref>{{cite web |script-title=el:Αρχές του Εξωτερικού |trans-title=Missions Abroad |publisher=Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs |language=el |access-date=2 July 2011 |url=http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/el-GR/Services/Directory/GreekAuthoritiesAbroad/#Β |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521050219/http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/el-GR/Services/Directory/GreekAuthoritiesAbroad/ |archive-date=21 May 2011}}</ref><br/>{{Color box|#3771c8|border=darkgray}} embassy<br/>{{Color box|#aaccff|border=darkgray}} embassy in another country<br/>{{Color box|#37c837|border=darkgray}} general consulate<br/>{{Color box|#cccccc|border=darkgray}} no representation<br/>{{Color box|black|border=darkgray}} Greece]]

Foreign policy is conducted through the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and its head, the [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]], currently [[Giorgos Gerapetritis]]. The aims of the Ministry are to represent Greece before other states and international organisations; safeguard the interests of the state and its citizens abroad; promote Greek culture; foster closer relations with the [[Greek diaspora]]; and encourage international cooperation.<ref name="MFA mission">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/the-ministry/structure/mission-and-competences.html |title=Mission and Competences |publisher=[[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=23 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213162204/http://www1.mfa.gr/en/the-ministry/structure/mission-and-competences.html |archive-date=13 February 2012}}</ref> Greece is described as having a [[Special relationship (international relations)|special relationship]] with [[Cyprus]], Italy, France, Armenia, Australia, Israel, the US and the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greece hails 'special relationship' with France on Hollande visit|work=France 24|date=22 October 2015 |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20151022-greece-hails-special-relationship-france-hollande-visit |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708170236/https://www.france24.com/en/20151022-greece-hails-special-relationship-france-hollande-visit|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |trans-title=Pavlopoulos and Mattarella confirm the longstanding Greek-Italian friendship |title=Παυλόπουλος και Ματαρέλα επιβεβαίωσαν τη μακρόχρονη ελληνοϊταλική φιλία |language=el |website=Documento |url=http://www.documentonews.gr/article/paylopoylos-kai-matarela-epibebaiwsan-th-makroxronh-ellhnoitalikh-filia |access-date=5 March 2017 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211132954/https://www.documentonews.gr/article/paylopoylos-kai-matarela-epibebaiwsan-th-makroxronh-ellhnoitalikh-filia |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |trans-title=Pavlopoulos – Mattarella: Strong friendship and a common vision between Greece and Italy |title=Παυλόπουλος – Ματαρέλα: Δυνατή φιλία και κοινή οπτική μεταξύ Ελλάδας και Ιταλίας |language=el |date=17 January 2017 |url=http://news247.gr/eidiseis/politiki/paylopoylos-matarela-dynath-filia-kai-koinh-optikh-metaksu-elladas-kai-italias.4482614.html |website=news247 |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=6 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306131743/http://news247.gr/eidiseis/politiki/paylopoylos-matarela-dynath-filia-kai-koinh-optikh-metaksu-elladas-kai-italias.4482614.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Greece-Italy alliance (Ελλάδα-Ιταλία συμμαχία) |website=makthes.gr |url=http://makthes.gr/%CE%B5-%CE%B5-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1-%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%AF%CE%B1/ |access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=6 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306134643/http://makthes.gr/%CE%B5-%CE%B5-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1-%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%AF%CE%B1/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A medal of honor for the Greek-Italian relations (Ενα παράσημο για τις ελληνοϊταλικές σχέσεις) |website=enet.gr |url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=400223 |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608110930/http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=400223 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Greece Became One of America's—and Israel's—Closest Allies |date=18 June 2019 |website=washingtonmonthly.com |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019/06/18/how-greece-became-one-of-americas-and-israels-closest-allies/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=18 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618114221/https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019/06/18/how-greece-became-one-of-americas-and-israels-closest-allies/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the resolution of the [[Macedonia naming dispute]] with the [[Prespa Agreement]] in 2018, the Ministry identifies two remaining issues of particular importance to the Greek state: [[Aegean dispute|Turkish challenges to Greek sovereignty rights]] in the Aegean Sea and corresponding airspace, and the [[Cyprus problem]] involving the [[Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus|Turkish occupation]] of [[Northern Cyprus]].<ref name="MFA issues">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy-issues/|title=Foreign Policy Issues|publisher=[[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]]|access-date=23 February 2012|archive-date=6 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206233103/http://www1.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy-issues/|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a long-standing conflict between Turkey and Greece over natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey does not recognise a legal [[continental shelf]] and [[exclusive economic zone]] around the Greek islands.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey threatens Greece over disputed Mediterranean territorial claims |url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-threatens-greece-over-disputed-mediterranean-territorial-claims/a-54828554 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=5 September 2020 |access-date=13 September 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407105520/https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-threatens-greece-over-disputed-mediterranean-territorial-claims/a-54828554 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to its geographical proximity to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Greece is of geostrategic importance, which it has leveraged to develop a regional policy to promote peace and stability in the [[Balkans]], Mediterranean and the Middle East.<ref name="MFA regional policy">{{cite web | url= http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy/regional-policy/ | title= Regional Policy | work= Hellenic Republic - Ministry of Foreign Affairs | publisher= [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] | access-date= 23 February 2012 | archive-date= 4 February 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120204082400/http://www1.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy/regional-policy/ | url-status= live }}</ref> This has accorded the country [[middle power]] status.<ref name="Thanos-Veremēs">Thanos Veremēs (1997) [https://books.google.com/books?id=sn-yAAAAIAAJ The Military in Greek Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404065337/https://books.google.com/books?id=sn-yAAAAIAAJ |date=4 April 2023 }} "Black Rose Books"</ref>

Greece is a member of numerous international organisations, including the [[Council of Europe]], the [[European Union]], the [[Union for the Mediterranean]], [[NATO]], the {{Lang|fr|[[Organisation internationale de la francophonie]]|italic=no}} and the UN, of which it is a founding member.