King Hamad and Prime Minister Mitsotakis Strengthen Bahrain-Greece Ties

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens on September 18, 2026, to strengthen bilateral cooperation across shipping, ports, investment, and defense. The leaders discussed a prospective memorandum of understanding to expand economic ties in aviation, industry, and tourism.

Regional security served as a primary focus of the talks. King Hamad emphasized that navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to ensure non-discriminatory transit passage. He requested that Greece provide clarity to European partners regarding developments in the Gulf region.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece's commitment to the security and territorial integrity of Bahrain. The two leaders also discussed coordination at the United Nations, where Greece holds a non-permanent seat on the Security Council through 2026. The meeting took place as Mitsotakis prepared for the U.N. General Assembly in the United States.