US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Athens for the launch of the sixth round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, with energy, defence, regional security, connectivity, investment and technology high on the agenda.
Rubio is expected to meet Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis as Athens and Washington assess bilateral ties and wider geopolitical developments.
The visit is also notable because Rubio is not making a corresponding trip to Ankara, unlike the parallel Greece-Turkey visits traditionally used by US diplomacy to maintain regional balance.
Energy and defence at the centre of talks
Energy is expected to be a major focus, particularly the Vertical Corridor, which aims to strengthen Greece’s role as a gateway for US liquefied natural gas to the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
The planned exploration activities of ExxonMobil and Chevron in the Greek exclusive economic zone are also expected to feature in discussions, alongside wider energy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Defence cooperation will also be high on the agenda, including Greece’s F-16 upgrades and plans to acquire F-35 fighter jets, as well as additional US weapons and support equipment.
Greece, Cyprus and Israel cooperation
Regional cooperation through the Greece-Cyprus-Israel 3+1 format with the United States is another key issue.
Athens and Washington are expected to discuss energy and digital connectivity projects, as well as wider developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
The talks will also cover the war in Ukraine, regional security and Greece’s relations with Israel and Arab countries.
Three bilateral agreements to be signed
The sixth Strategic Dialogue will include the signing of three agreements covering cultural heritage, military cooperation and maritime education.
They include a renewed memorandum on import restrictions covering certain archaeological and ethnological material dating up to the 15th century, a letter of intent establishing cooperation between the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard, and a memorandum on the mutual recognition of certificates of competency for seafarers.
Rubio’s Athens programme
Rubio is arriving in Athens from Iceland, with his official programme beginning with a meeting with Gerapetritis at the Foreign Ministry and the formal launch of the sixth Strategic Dialogue.
He is also scheduled to inaugurate a new wing of the US Embassy and deliver a speech at the Pnyx before meeting Mitsotakis.
The visit will conclude with a dinner hosted in his honour, attended by the Greek prime minister and foreign minister.
For Athens, the visit is expected to reaffirm the strength of bilateral ties while advancing specific cooperation in energy, defence and investment and highlighting the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean.
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