US Secretary of State Rubio embarked on the sixth round of US-Greece strategic dialogue during his visit to Athens, Greece. The core topics expected to be discussed include defense, energy security, and regional strategic cooperation.
According to the itinerary released by the US State Department, Rubio kicked off his four-day European tour on October 5th, visiting Iceland, Greece, and Portugal.
Rubio arrived in Athens on Tuesday evening and received a warm welcome from Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
Before the visit, Rubio told reporters that “Greece is a very important ally of the United States, where we not only have a military presence but also have close economic ties.”
On Wednesday, leaders from the US and Greece held official talks covering cooperation in various areas such as energy, defense, regional security, connectivity, investment, and technology. Athens aims to highlight its strategic partnership role with the US in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Deepening defense cooperation will be a significant part of this strategic dialogue. Key discussions include the implementation of Greece’s plan to procure 20 F-35 fighter jets, F-16 fighter jet upgrade projects, and enhancing the combat capabilities of the Greek armed forces through new rounds of military procurement.
As part of the sixth round of strategic dialogue, the two sides are expected to sign three memoranda of understanding.
First, they will renew a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of import restrictions on certain categories of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts dating back to the 15th century and earlier.
Secondly, Greece and the US will sign an MoU on cooperation between the Greek armed forces and the Florida National Guard.
Thirdly, they will sign an MoU on the mutual recognition of seafarer certificates in accordance with the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
This move aims to promote seafarer employment and strengthen Greece-US cooperation in shipping and maritime education.
Given the impact of the Iran-Ukraine situation on global energy supply chains, Greece is actively seeking to become a hub for natural gas transportation in Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The “Vertical Gas Corridor” project is expected to be one of the focal points of this meeting.
At the same time, the exploration and investment activities of US energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron in the waters near Greece will also be key discussion topics.
In February of this year, Athens signed a leasing agreement granting a consortium led by US energy giant Chevron exclusive rights to explore and exploit hydrocarbons in the seas to the south of the Peloponnese and Crete. In April, another agreement was signed with a consortium led by ExxonMobil to kick off drilling exploration in the northwestern part of the Ionian Sea in 2027.
As one of the highlights of this visit, Rubio is scheduled to deliver a speech near the Acropolis on Pnyx Hill, the site of the ancient Athenian democratic assembly.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, Dylan Johnson, told reporters that “Secretary Rubio will speak at the birthplace of Western civilization, calling on Americans and Europeans to work together to promote the great revival of Western spirit—a heritage that extends from Athens and Rome to the Christian world and the establishment of the United States.”
“He will urge Western allies to join forces with the US in resisting decline, defending our common heritage, and collectively addressing the new era of great power competition,” Johnson added.
Rubio’s itinerary also includes a visit to the US Embassy in Athens and attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a renovation project. On Wednesday afternoon, Rubio will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion. Greece will host an official dinner on Wednesday evening to bid farewell to Rubio.
Following the official schedule, Rubio will then head to Lisbon, Portugal for a brief visit before concluding his European tour.
(This article is based on reports from the Cyprus Mail and Agence France-Presse)