Greece–Mexico relations
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Greece-Mexico relations refers to the historical and current bilateral relationship 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.
History
Beginning in the 18th century, the first Greeks began migrating to Mexico and settling primarily in Mexico City and the Mexican State of Sinaloa.[1] Many had left Greece due to war, political instability and economic problems in Greece. The Mexican government also offered incentives for Greeks to work in Mexico.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
High-level visits
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High-level visits from Greece to Mexico[3]
- Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou (1986)
- Foreign Minister Antonis Samaras (1991)
- Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos (1998)
High-level visits from Mexico to Greece[3]
- President Adolfo López Mateos (1963)
- Foreign Secretary Bernardo Sepúlveda Amor (1986)
- Foreign Secretary Fernando Solana (1992)
- Foreign Secretary Rosario Green (1999)
- Foreign Undersecretary Juan Rebolledo (1999)
- Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez (2003)
- Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa (2012)
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).[2]
Trade relations
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.[6] 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
- Greece has an embassy in Mexico City[7]
- Mexico has an embassy in Athens.[8]
Country comparison
 Greece
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 Mexico
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| Coat of arms | 
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| 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
- ^ a b Mexicanos griegos (in Spanish)
- ^ a b Relaciones México-Grecia (in Spanish)
- ^ a b c d e SRE: Relaciones con la República Helénica (in Spanish)
- ^ Balean embajada de México en Grecia; SRE exige investigación (in Spanish)
- ^ Grecia y México van por protección de bienes culturales (in Spanish)
- ^ Mexican Ministry of Economy: Greece (in Spanish)
- ^ Embassy of Greece in Mexico City
- ^ Embassy of Mexico in Athens
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