Rubio will take part in the sixth round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue and meet with Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Agreements are expected on military cooperation, shipping and the protection of cultural heritage. The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical pressures, with developments in the Middle East, the security of energy routes and great-power competition adding further weight to the talks.
The US secretary of state arrived in Athens on Tuesday evening. He was welcomed at the airport by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, who said in a post that bilateral relations had never been stronger.
Energy and defence at the heart of talks
The sixth round of the Strategic Dialogue provides an opportunity to review bilateral cooperation and set out the next steps. The agenda ranges from regional security and defence to advanced technology, trade, investment and people-to-people ties.
For Washington, key priorities include deepening defence cooperation and strengthening regional and energy security. Before departing for his European tour, which also includes Iceland and Portugal, Rubio referred both to the US military presence in Greece and to the countries’ strong economic ties.
On energy, particular emphasis is being placed on diversifying Europe’s sources of supply and developing infrastructure that can strengthen Greece’s role. This includes hydrocarbon exploration involving ExxonMobil and Chevron, the Vertical Corridor and electricity interconnections with Egypt, Cyprus and Israel.
In defence, talks are expected to cover the full range of bilateral cooperation, with key programmes including the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets and the upgrade of Greece’s F-16 fleet.
Agreements
As part of today’s proceedings, Greece and the United States are expected to sign a Letter of Intent on cooperation between the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard. Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias is also expected to attend the signing ceremony.
Greece and the US are also set to renew their memorandum of understanding on the imposition of import restrictions on categories of archaeological and ethnological material dating to the 15th century AD, strengthening the framework for protecting cultural heritage.
In shipping, the two countries are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates of competency under the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). The aim is to facilitate seafarer employment and strengthen cooperation in maritime training.
Middle East, Strait of Hormuz and Greek-Turkish relations
Beyond the bilateral agreements, the talks will have a strong regional dimension.
From the Greek side, Greek-Turkish relations are expected to be raised, along with the prospect of peaceful coexistence based on international law and the challenges posed to regional stability.
The talks are also expected to address Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime security is particularly important for Greece given the size of its merchant fleet, as well as the impact disruptions to sea routes can have on trade and energy supplies.
Pnyx speech to call for a ‘rebirth of the Western spirit’
The political message of Rubio’s visit will be set out in his speech at the Pnyx hill, against the backdrop of the Acropolis.
As US Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said in a statement to Breitbart News, the secretary of state will call on the United States and Europe to unite in a “great rebirth of the Western spirit”.
Ancient Greece will serve as the starting point for a message about the shared historical heritage of the two sides of the Atlantic.
