Key engagement

Australia and Greece have shared interests in relation to international peace and security, multilateralism, democratic values and strong people-to-people links.

Outlook

Australia aims to deepen our economic, cultural and security cooperation building on high-level engagement, including the Governor-General’s visit to Greece in 2023, and commemoration in 2021 of the 200th anniversary year of the Greek Revolution and the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Greece have a close bilateral relationship based on historical ties, the rich contribution of Greek Australians to Australian society and increasing two-way investment.

Australia and Greece share a military history, comprising both World War One and Two. During the Battle of Crete (1941) Australian soldiers fought alongside Greek, New Zealand and British troops, to defend Crete against invasion by Nazi Germany. The battle is commemorated annually in Australia and on Crete, and 2026 will mark the 85^th anniversary. High-level Greek military officers visit Australia annually to commemorate the Battle of Crete, supported by the Australian Greek community.

During World War I, the Greek island of Lemnos was the base for over 50,000 Australian soldiers, sailors and nurses who fought and served in the Gallipoli campaign. The Department of Veterans Affairs is developing a commemorative trail on Lemnos and has created a commemorative website.

Foreign policy

Greece's foreign policy agenda has traditionally focused on the European Union, the Balkans and its region. It shares a close defence and security relationship with the United States.

Greece joined the European Union in 1981 and has held the rotating presidency in 1983, 1988, 1994, 2003 and 2014. It will take on the presidency again from July 2027. It has been a member of the Schengen Area since 2000 and adopted the Euro in 2001. Greece is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which it joined in 1952; the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. It is currently an elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026 and campaigned heavily on maritime security, international law, climate change and security, and women, peace and security.

Greece was a founding member of the General Agreement on Trades and Tariffs (1950) and its successor, the World Trade Organization (1995).

Greece’s commitment to non-proliferation and responsible export controls for conventional arms and dual use goods is demonstrated through its membership of the Australia Group and other non-proliferation groupings such as the Wassenaar Agreement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime. Greece adheres to guidelines from the Zangger Committee.

Fast facts

Greek visitors to Australia (year ended 2024)

6,690

Australian returns from Greece (year ended 2024)

139,220 (not including those who enter Greece from another Schengen country or Australians who enter on a Greek passport)

Resident Australian population born in Greece (2021 census)

100,650

Australian residents of Greek descent (2021 census)

424,750

Greek student enrolments in Australia (year ended 2024)

252

Working holiday visas

180 visas have been issued from 2022 onwards.

High level engagement

October 2025: H.E Mr Ioannis-Michail Loverdos, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, visited Australia.

October 2024: His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited Australia to mark the 100^th anniversary of the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. His All-Holiness spent two weeks in Australia, meeting Prime Minister Albanese, Orthodox parishioners, political and interfaith leaders, and community groups.

May 2023: Governor-General, His Excellency, the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley travelled to Greece. The Governor-General met Her Excellency Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the Hellenic Republic. He visited the island of Lemnos where he attended a ceremony for commencement of work on the Lemnos Commemorative Trail and other sites significant to Australian military history.

June 2022 - Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP met with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis in the sidelines of the NATO Leaders Summit in Madrid.

April 2022 - Greek Minister of Culture and Sports, Linda Mendoni, visited Australia to launch the Open Horizons exhibition and met with then Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP.

December 2021 - Then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne met with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and other Greek ministers in Athens.

November 2021 - Then Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the sidelines of the COP26 Conference in Glasgow.

Agreements with and arrangements with Greece

Australia has numerous bilateral agreements with Greece, including on social security, mutual assistance in criminal matters and cultural cooperation. Negotiations are currently underway on a Double Taxation Agreement.

In 2021, Greece introduced a law providing for the recognition of Australian drivers’ licences in Greece.

Texts of bilateral agreements are available at the Australian Treaties Database.

Public diplomacy

Greece and Australia share strong ties based on our shared military history and migration from Greece to Australia.

Annual war commemorations are held in Athens, Lemnos and Crete. In 2022, the Australian Government approved AUD4.9 million funding for a Gallipoli commemorative project in Lemnos, which was a key staging point and site for hospitals during the campaign.

There are Greek community and cultural centres, clubs and associations in most Australian cities.  Adelaide is a sister city to Athens and Melbourne to Thessaloniki. The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia plays an important role in philanthropic work and education.

The Australian Embassy in Athens promotes Australian culture and values in Greece including filmmaking, literature and promoting gender equality and human rights.

Numerous universities in Australia offer Greek language, history and culture studies. The University of Sydney has a Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, where students study and research Greek language, tradition and history. The Australian Archaeological Institute of Athens facilitates study visits of Australian students to historical sites.

Australian Embassy in Athens

Facebook: Australia in Greece

Twitter: @AusAmbAthens

Economic diplomacy

Australia continues to seek opportunities to promote Australian business and raise awareness of potential benefits of increased trade between Australia and Europe, including Greece. This work has intensified following the launch of Double Taxation Agreement negotiations in 2022.

More information about the Australia-EU trade agreement.

The Embassy’s economic diplomacy efforts focus on identifying and facilitating business opportunities with Greece, including in key sectors of infrastructure, energy, hospitality, renewables and firefighting services. Its outreach also aims to increase awareness of business opportunities in Australia, including in the education, science, technology and innovation sectors.

Further economic and trade information.

Business

In 2024, two-way goods and services trade between Australia and Greece was valued at AUD2,206 million. Imports from Greece accounted for AUD2,206 million, primarily in transport services, recreational travel, medicaments (including veterinary), vegetables (preserved or non-preserved), plastic tubes, pipes and hoses, cereal preparations, cheese and curd. Australia’s principal exports were oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits, transport services, recreational travel, professional technical and other business services, education-related travel, non-ferrous waste and scrap.

Australia's investment relationship with Greece is growing. In 2024, Australian investment in Greece was AUD684 million. Major Australian companies present in Greece include Macquarie (energy and infrastructure), ResMed (medical equipment), CSL Limited (pharmaceuticals) and Kourispower (hydroelectricity). Greek investment in Australia totalled AUD166 million.

In 2021, Macquarie invested EUR 2.1 billion in Greece’s electricity network (the biggest privatisation in Greece’s history) and announced EUR 1.5 billion investment in renewable energy projects in Northern Greece. Greek company METLEN has invested in several solar energy and battery projects in Australia.

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) Milan Office promotes Australian trade and business with Greece.