Greece–Mexico relations

Greece-Mexico relations are the historical and current bilateral relations between the Hellenic Republic and the United Mexican States. Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

Greece-Mexico relations
Map indicating locations of Greece and Mexico

Greece
Mexico

History

Diplomatic relations between Greece and Mexico were established on the 17 May 1938 immediately after the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between both nations.[1] Between 1955 and 1964 diplomatic relations were carried out between Mexico's embassy in Rome, Italy and Greece's embassy in Washington, D.C., United States; and through their respective honorary consulates.[2]

In 1963, President Adolfo López Mateos became the first Mexican head-of-state to visit Greece. In 1965 resident embassies were established in each other's capitals.[2] In May 1986, Mexican Foreign Secretary Bernardo Sepúlveda Amor paid a visit to Greece to sign bilateral agreements between both nations. In August 1986, Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou paid an official visit to Mexico, becoming the first Greek head-of-government to visit the nation.[2] In 1991, Greek Foreign Minister (and future Prime Minister) Antonis Samaras paid a visit to Mexico. There have been several additional visits by foreign ministers of both nations thus strengthening their bilateral relationship.

In August 2016, shots were fired at the Mexican Embassy in Athens.[3] In February 2020, a Mexico-Greece Friendship Group was installed in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies; which will focus on the protection of cultural assets against climate change and the illegal trafficking of archaeological pieces.[4]

High-level visits
Foreign Secretary of Mexico Patricia Espinosa and Foreign Minister of Greece Dimitris Avramopoulos in Athens; July 2012.

High-level visits from Greece to Mexico[2]

High-level visits from Mexico to Greece[2]

Bilateral relations

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as a Treaty of Friendship (1938); Agreement on Education and Cultural Cooperation (1982); Agreement of Cooperation in Tourism (1992); Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1999); Extradition Treaty (1999); Agreement in Scientific and Technological Cooperation (1999); Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (1999); Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (2000); Trade Agreement (2000); Agreement on the Avoidance of Double-Taxation and Tax Evasion (2004) and a Memorandum of Understanding between both nations Diplomatic Institutions (2009).[1]

Trade relations
Embassy of Mexico in Athens

In 2000, Mexico signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union (which includes Greece). Since 2000, trade between the two countries has grown considerably. In 2018, two-way trade between both nations amounted to US$217 million.[5] Greek exports to Mexico include: parts and accessories for watt meters; razors and blades. Mexican exports to Greece include: tequila, process units, chickpea, memory units and malt beer. Greece's total cumulative investment in Mexico between 1999 and 2016 was $1.3 million.

Resident diplomatic missions

Country comparison
Greece Greece Mexico Mexico
Coat of arms
Population 10,815,016 119,530,753
Area 131,990 km2 (50,944sq mi) 1,972,550 km2 (761,610sq mi)
Population Density 85.3/km2 (221/sq mi) 61/km2 (158.0sq mi)
Capital Athens Mexico City
Largest City Athens - 3,074,160 (3,737,550 Metro) Mexico City – 8,918,653 (20,400,000 Metro)
Government Parliamentary republic Federal presidential constitutional republic
Current leader President Katerina Sakellaropoulou
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis		 President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Official languages Greek Spanish
Main religions 98% Christians, 1.3% Muslims, 0.7% Others 83% Roman Catholicism
11% Protestantism
5% Non-Religious
0.2% Other
Ethnic groups 93.76% Greeks, 4.32% Albanians, 0.39% Bulgarians,
0.23% Romanians, 0.18% Ukrainians, 0.14% Pakistani,
0.12% Russians, 0.12% Georgians, 0.09% Indians, 0.65% Others		 62% Mestizos
28% Amerindian
10% Other
GDP (nominal) US$303.065 billion ($27,073 per capita) US$1.322 trillion ($10,405 per capita)

See also

References
  1. Relaciones México-Grecia (in Spanish)
  2. SRE: Relaciones con la República Helénica (in Spanish)
  3. Balean embajada de México en Grecia; SRE exige investigación (in Spanish)
  4. Grecia y México van por protección de bienes culturales (in Spanish)
  5. Mexican Ministry of Economy: Greece (in Spanish)
  6. Embassy of Greece in Mexico City
  7. Embassy of Mexico in Athens
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