Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi welcomed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the United States Capitol on Tuesday, May 17.

Mitsotakis addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress and celebrated 200 years of partnership between Greece and the United States.

Speaking from the dais on the House Floor, Mitsotakis said, “I bring you here today the pledge of the Greek people: that we stand together with the people of the United States – whenever and wherever necessary – to ensure that the hopes our ancestors bequeathed to the world 25 centuries ago will endure, and the dream of freedom for every human being on this planet will never die.”

Throughout his speech, Mitsotakis spoke about the shared relationship between Greece and the United States, as the founding of the American republic drew from the ideals and philosophy of Athenian democracy.

“I come before you to celebrate a miracle that all free people cherish, but that binds Greeks and Americans in a unique way,” he said. “That miracle, the Greek idea that would forever change the world, is that society functions best if all its citizens are equal and have the right to share in the running of their state.”

Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations in maintaining global peace, addressing climate change, and improving human rights. He highlighted a variety of global issues he found concerning, such as the war in Eastern Europe and the territorial dispute in Cyprus.

In an official statement, Pelosi said, “When drafting our Constitution, our founders drew on the Ancient Greek ideals of liberty and democracy… Today, more than two centuries later, our nations are key allies on the world stage: advancing our mutual security and economic interests, as well as promoting our shared democratic values in the world.”

Click here to watch Mitsotakis’ full speech.