Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis attended the opening of the art exhibition 'Thalatta' at the United Nations in New York on May 20, coinciding with Greece's Presidency of the UN Security Council. The exhibition features 11 contemporary paintings by Greek artists from the National Gallery in Athens, curated around the theme of the sea. Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris delivered welcoming remarks, and Syrago Tsiara, Director of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum, spoke about the sea's role in cultural diplomacy and international cooperation.
The exhibition matters because it uses visual art as a diplomatic tool, linking Greece's maritime heritage to its UN Security Council priorities, including maritime security and ocean conservation. By framing the sea as a connector of peoples and cultures, the event underscores how art can amplify foreign policy messages and foster international dialogue on shared challenges like environmental protection and sustainable development.