Foreign policy of Andreas Papandreou

The foreign policies of Andreas Papandreou during his terms as Prime Minister of Greece (1981–1989 and 1993–1995) marked a significant shift from previous Greek governments, having a strong character of national populism and non-alignment.

Papandreou was a realist on core political issues but a leftist ideologue on peripheral matters. He continued Karamanlis' policy to remain in the European Union and NATO, both of which he vehemently opposed for many years. Complementing this political realism, Papandreou's ability to publicly reject American positions gave Greeks a sense of national independence and psychological self-worth. However, in the end, his frequent radical and combative rhetoric frustrated existing allies and did not bring new allies (Arab states or countries from the eastern bloc), leaving Greece more diplomatically isolated and unable to advance a solution on the Cyprus problem.

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