Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
Albanese confirmed the encounter by sharing a photograph of the two leaders on social media.
“Great to catchup with Greece PM @kyriakos_ at the UN General Assembly 🇦🇺🇬🇷,” he wrote.
The meeting came during a busy week of international diplomacy for both leaders and amid longstanding efforts to deepen ties between Australia and Greece.
Albanese used his address to the 81st UN General Assembly to warn that the rules-based international system was under growing pressure, while identifying climate change and artificial intelligence as challenges requiring international cooperation.
“Clearly, the multilateral system we have all known and benefited from is under immense strain,” Albanese told the assembly.
“That order, based on agreed rules and institutions, faces massive disruption.”
The Australian Prime Minister also reiterated Australia’s call for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, backed a ceasefire in Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and reaffirmed Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.
His speech doubled as a pitch for Australia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2029–30. Albanese said Australia would use the position to defend international law and “amplify the voices of small states and middle powers”.
The latest meeting between Albanese and Mitsotakis follows their joint participation in a UN event on protecting children in the digital age during last year’s High-Level Week.
The latest meeting between Albanese and Mitsotakis was last year during their joint participation in a UN event.
At the Australia-hosted event, Mitsotakis warned that the world was “running the biggest unchecked experiment with our children’s brains ever” and outlined Greece’s measures to protect young people online, including banning mobile phones in schools and introducing a government platform offering age verification and parental controls.
Following the event, Albanese praised Mitsotakis’ contribution and confirmed the Greek leader had been invited to visit Australia as an official guest.
A planned visit in March 2026, expected to include stops in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra alongside Greek Independence Day commemorations, was later postponed because of the escalating situation in the Middle East. No revised dates have been announced as yet.
Albanese also met President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides on the sidelines of the General Assembly this week.
Albanese also met President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides on the sidelines of the General Assembly this week.
Christodoulides briefed the Australian leader on the latest state of the Cyprus peace process as diplomatic efforts continue towards renewed negotiations over the island’s decades-long division.
The meeting was also attended by Cypriot Foreign Minister Dr Constantinos Kombos.
The Greek Herald understands those discussions touched on a potential official visit by Christodoulides to Australia within the coming year, although no visit has been formally announced.