Greece’s Foreign Policy Multidimensional, Not EU-Centered

New Greek foreign policy does not exclusively concentrate on relations with European Union members, Greek Deputy Defense Minister Costas Isychos told Sputnik.

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik), Anna Liatsou – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during his April visit to Moscow that Athens has the right to a foreign policy independent of the EU, emphasizing Greece's intention to renew its relationship with Russia.

"This Greek government does have a multilateral dimensional foreign policy, which is aimed at looking outside Europe also, not only within the European Union," Isychos said.

He added that Russia can become a strategic partner for Greece.

The left-wing Syriza party, led by Tsipras, came to power in Greece in January, and has taken a pro-Russian stance, saying that Athens wants to increase its cooperation with Moscow in energy and other areas.

The Greek prime minister will attend the June 18-20 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where, according to Greek Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, Athens hopes to sign a framework agreement on extending the Turkish Stream gas pipeline to reach a planned Turkish-Greek gas hub near the Ipsala border checkpoint.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the project could help Greece become one of the main energy distribution centers in Europe.