Referring to developments in the Persian Gulf and the war in Ukraine, he noted that the international community is entering a prolonged period of instability.“Experts believed the war in Ukraine would last five days, and it has already lasted four and a half years. I fear we still have a long way to go,” he stated. As he emphasized, governments, societies, and industry must prepare for the consequences ahead, reminding the audience that 90% of global trade is conducted by sea.“How governments manage this crisis will determine their political survival,” he said, noting that political upheavals and government changes are already being recorded internationally.Strong and interventionist presence in international forumsKikilias underlined that Greece must maintain a stronger and more interventionist presence in European forums and at the IMO, leveraging the strength of Greek shipping, which he described as “a miracle built by three and four generations of Greeks.”“We dared and implemented a more assertive policy that protects the country’s interests,” he stated, adding that Greek interests largely coincide with European interests.Draghi’s reportHe also made special reference to the Draghi report on Europe’s competitiveness, noting that despite its clear observations regarding the critical role of shipping, the European Union has moved slowly. “Very little has been done over the past eighteen months, and this reveals Europe’s reflexes,” he said, expressing concern.At the same time, he warned against policies that, as he said, serve individual national interests at the expense of overall European competitiveness, noting that Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, and, on several issues, Spain, are now shaping common positions.LNG cannot be banned The minister also criticized the discussion about the complete ban of LNG as a transitional fuel from 2027, raising the question of whether Europe can withstand another rise in energy prices and a new wave of inflation. “We must very seriously reconsider what our revenues are and what we need to protect as the apple of our eye,” he stated, placing emphasis on energy and maritime infrastructure, shipyards, FSRUs, and future drilling projects.A vision for the younger generationConcluding his remarks, Kikilias placed particular emphasis on the younger generation and employment prospects in shipping and maritime professions. As he noted, Greece used to direct young people toward the public sector in the past; however, the maritime industry can now offer well-paid jobs, high-level education, and significant career opportunities. “This is a vision for the future. This is a source of hope. This is growth,” he concluded.