Gideon Rachman interviews Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure for Greece's shipping industry. As one of the world's leading maritime nations, Greece faces significant exposure to disruptions in this critical oil transit chokepoint. The discussion comes amid escalating Middle East tensions that have raised concerns about global energy supply chains.

The conversation turns to Greece's painful recovery from the 2015 financial crisis, which pushed the country to the eurozone's edge. Mitsotakis outlines the structural reforms and fiscal discipline that enabled economic stabilization. He argues this experience positions Athens to offer insights on managing strategic dependencies—particularly relevant as Europe debates reducing vulnerability to external shocks.

Mitsotakis advocates for European strategic autonomy, emphasizing the need for the continent to develop independent defense and energy capabilities. Regarding Ukraine, he discusses pathways to end the conflict while maintaining European security interests. The interview highlights how a small EU member state with recent crisis experience is shaping debates on continental resilience.