Greece celebrates its role at heart of Three Seas Initiative

Europe is getting a massive infrastructure upgrade — and it's about to shake up global trade routes. 

Leaders from thirteen EU countries are in Warsaw celebrating ten years of the Three Seas Initiative, a project aimed at boosting Europe's internal connections. But it's doing much more than that — it's opening new doors for power players like the U.S., China, and, once again, Greece is finding itself right at the center.

Originally launched to better link Europe's north, south, and east, the Three Seas Initiative is now becoming a key piece of the global trade puzzle, especially as China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) hunts for faster ways into Europe.

Ports like Piraeus and Alexandroupoli in Greece are no longer just local hubs. They are fast becoming the main entry points for Chinese goods streaming into Central and Eastern Europe.

"Greece is a hub — a very well-connected one," maritime financier George Xiradakis told CGTN. "It's crucial for accelerating both road and rail transportation in support of the Three Seas vision," he added.

Over 140 major projects — highways, railways, energy grids — are underway, all designed to move goods faster, cheaper, and smarter. Polish President Andrzej Duda says the Three Seas region, home to 120 million people, could boost its economy by a whopping 35 percent by 2030.

And Greece? It's sitting right in the middle of it all.

Journalist and political analyst Antonis Papagiannidis said Greece's decision to formally join the initiative years after its launch proves the country understood early on the critical importance of connectivity. "It's a rare moment," he said, pointing out how Greece's strategic ports are now key assets linking China's ambitions with Europe's economic drive.

And it's not just trade. Energy networks and faster digital systems are also part of the plan, setting the stage for a smarter, more integrated Europe.

Without Greece, "the transportation and supply chain would become uneconomical," Xiradakis added, underlining the country's pivotal role.

Still, analysts warn that the biggest challenge will be turning grand plans into real-world infrastructure.

"Connectivity today requires serious, stable investments in transport, energy, and digital sectors," Papagiannidis said. "That's the real challenge — and the real opportunity."

Bottom line: the Three Seas Initiative isn't just linking countries anymore — it's redrawing the map of global trade. And once again, Greece stands at the crossroads of history.