Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has returned to the international stage, this time in a role that puts him at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and diplomacy. On February 17, 2026, Antenna Group, Greece’s largest media company, announced the appointment of Blair as its senior advisor. The timing of this move is far from coincidental: Antenna Group is gearing up to host the Europe-Gulf Forum in Greece this coming May, an event organized in collaboration with the Atlantic Council and aimed at strengthening the dialogue between Europe and Gulf nations.
The appointment of Blair, whose tenure as UK prime minister spanned from 1997 to 2007, is being hailed by Antenna Group as a strategic coup. According to a statement released by the company, Blair’s “geopolitical experience is expected to add significant strategic value as it positions the forum as a platform for dialogue between Europe and Gulf countries amid increasing global polarization.” The world, it seems, is in dire need of bridge-builders, and Antenna Group believes Blair fits the bill.
The company’s chairman, Theodore Kyriakou, offered glowing praise for Blair, emphasizing the former prime minister’s credentials. “Blair’s extensive experience in managing key international issues, his deep diplomatic knowledge, as well as our shared values – integrity and connecting people for progress – are a valuable asset to us,” Kyriakou said. He added that Blair’s new role “strengthens the strategic reach of the Europe-Gulf Forum, an initiative … which reflects our firm belief that dialogue builds trust, creates opportunities and brings people and countries closer together.”
Blair himself echoed this sentiment, calling the Europe-Gulf Forum an “important and timely initiative.” He remarked, “At a time of increasing global polarization, Antenna is leading the effort to connect societies and reduce rivalries. The forum is a meaningful initiative for the future. Europe and the Gulf share deep strategic interests and have significant scope for cooperation.” According to Antenna Group, Blair’s involvement is designed to ensure that the forum is not just another diplomatic talking shop, but a genuine platform for building trust and opportunity between disparate regions.
For Blair, who has spent nearly two decades in the international spotlight, this appointment is both a continuation and a reinvention of his public life. While his years as prime minister were marked by both acclaim and controversy—his legacy still hotly debated in the UK and abroad—Blair has never been one to shy away from the big stage. In fact, his career and personal life have recently been thrust back into the spotlight thanks to Channel 4’s documentary, The Tony Blair Story, which aired on February 17, 2026. The 90-minute program, billed as offering “unprecedented access, including to Blair and his family,” tracks his rise to power and the events that followed.
For those less familiar with Blair’s personal side, the documentary also sheds light on his family life. Blair is married to Cherie Blair, the daughter of UK actor Tony Booth, and together they have four children: Euan, Nicky, Kathryn, and Leo. While the Blair children generally keep a low profile, two have achieved a measure of fame in their own right, though the specifics of their accomplishments remain largely outside the glare of the political limelight.
Yet, as Blair steps into his new advisory role, not all headlines have been flattering. On the very day of his appointment, another article questioned Blair’s recent criticisms of wind power prices. According to the report, Blair has attacked wind power prices even though they are now lower than the overall market price. The article pointedly asks, “What’s in it for Tony Blair to attack wind power prices that are now lower than the overall market price?” (as noted by the source). This criticism has added a layer of complexity to Blair’s public persona, suggesting that his interventions in policy debates—especially those concerning energy—continue to spark controversy and debate.
This latest episode is hardly the first time Blair has found himself at the center of heated discussions. His premiership, spanning a decade from 1997 to 2007, was marked by significant domestic reforms as well as contentious foreign policy decisions, most notably the UK’s involvement in the Iraq War. Even now, nearly twenty years after leaving office, his legacy remains the subject of intense scrutiny. The Channel 4 documentary, for instance, describes him as “one of Britain’s most successful and controversial leaders.”
But if Blair’s past has been divisive, his current role at Antenna Group is being positioned as forward-looking. The Europe-Gulf Forum, scheduled for May 2026 in Greece, is designed to be a high-level gathering that addresses the urgent need for cross-regional dialogue. With the world facing increasing polarization—politically, economically, and culturally—the forum aims to foster cooperation on issues ranging from security to trade, energy to education.
The involvement of the Atlantic Council, a respected think tank known for its focus on international affairs and transatlantic relations, adds further weight to the event. According to Antenna Group, the collaboration is meant to ensure that the forum is not just about lofty rhetoric but about actionable outcomes. Blair’s role, then, is to provide the kind of strategic vision and diplomatic savvy that can turn good intentions into real results.
Of course, Blair’s critics might argue that his recent comments on wind power prices cast doubt on his commitment to progressive energy solutions. Still, supporters see his willingness to engage with difficult topics as evidence of his continued relevance. As the world grapples with complex questions—how to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability, how to bridge divides between regions with very different histories and interests—Blair’s experience at the highest levels of government and international diplomacy could prove invaluable.
For Antenna Group, the appointment is a clear signal of its ambitions. By bringing in a figure of Blair’s stature, the company hopes to elevate the Europe-Gulf Forum into a must-attend event for policymakers, business leaders, and civil society actors alike. As Kyriakou put it, the forum “reflects our firm belief that dialogue builds trust, creates opportunities and brings people and countries closer together.”
Whether Blair’s involvement will deliver on these lofty promises remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: as May 2026 approaches, all eyes will be on Greece—and on Tony Blair—as the Europe-Gulf Forum seeks to chart a new course for cooperation in an increasingly divided world.