By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
On October 22, 2026, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) nomination of Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for United Nations secretary-general during talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Maximos Mansion in Athens. With Greece presiding over the UN Security Council in October, Mitsotakis said it would seek to accelerate the selection process.
The leaders also discussed investment, energy, defense and technology. Mitsotakis said major agreements between Greek and Emirati companies would be signed, without naming the companies or their value. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis received the crown prince at Athens International Airport, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
Mitsotakis Praises the Emirati UN Candidate
Mitsotakis congratulated the UAE for putting forward a woman he described as exceptionally qualified, according to a Greek government briefing supplied to Bosphorus News. The text was an unofficial Greek translation of his English remarks, which did not name the nominee. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had formally nominated Nusseibeh on October 21 in a letter to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
The Greek prime minister said Athens would use its council presidency to speed up the process and seek an outcome acceptable to the General Assembly. He did not announce a formal Greek endorsement of Nusseibeh.
Nusseibeh, a UAE minister of state, was the country's permanent representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024. She presided over the Security Council twice during the UAE's 2022–2023 term. Secretary-General António Guterres completes his second term on December 31, 2026. The Security Council recommends a successor, who is appointed by the General Assembly.
UAE Investment Target Exceeded Before Visit
The leaders reviewed Emirati investment in Greece, including a €4 billion target set under a 2022 agreement involving the Hellenic Development Bank, the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments and Abu Dhabi's investment company ADQ. The target has been exceeded, the Greek readout said, without providing a revised total.
The milestone predates the visit. Mitsotakis's office had already reported it on February 27, 2025, following his meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
Further talks covered tourism, energy, artificial intelligence, infrastructure and defense. WAM named Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) chief executive Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi and Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, deputy chief of staff of the UAE Armed Forces, among the visiting delegation.
Defense Partnership and Regional Talks
Greece and the UAE signed a foreign-policy and defense cooperation agreement on November 18, 2020. Officials held further defense, security and technology talks in Athens on September 9, 2026.
Mitsotakis said the visit came amid regional upheaval and called for closer cooperation between the two countries as pillars of stability. He asked the crown prince to convey his greetings to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and said he hoped to visit Abu Dhabi soon.
Sources: Official Greek government meeting briefing supplied to Bosphorus News, Emirates News Agency (WAM), United Nations Security Council, Office of the Greek Prime Minister, Bosphorus News review and reporting.