The urgent summons of Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to Washington by his American counterpart Marco Rubio highlights both the critical nature of the current situation and the pivotal role Greece is called upon to play in the highly likely scenario of a US-prepared attack against Iran. At the center of the American strategy is the Souda Bay Base, where the aircraft carrier “Gerald Ford” has been stationed for resupply, which emerges as an irreplaceable advantage for the US due to its strategic position.
However, Greece is no longer limited to merely providing facilities but actively participates in planning for the region’s future, in an effort to leverage and capitalize on its role within the framework of geostrategic balances in the Southeastern Mediterranean and the Middle East region. According to well-informed sources who spoke to parapolitika.gr, the Iran issue and the aftermath following a possible American attack in the region will be the main topic of tomorrow’s discussion between George Gerapetritis and his American counterpart.
Shortly before departing for Washington, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis spoke of a meeting taking place “in a critical condition for international reality, where processes and efforts for peace on all fronts are underway.”
Kairidis to parapolitika.gr on Gerapetritis-Rubio meeting: Greece’s broader role on the agenda
Elaborating, Professor of International Relations and parliamentary spokesperson for New Democracy, Dimitris Kairidis, speaking to parapolitika.gr argues that “this is not a narrow meeting, as in the past which basically concerned ‘the Turkey problem,’ which has been raised and re-raised and obviously Marco Rubio is absolutely aware of it. But on the agenda comes Greece’s broader role, now that Greek foreign policy is opening up and developing wider initiatives, given the crisis we have in the Persian Gulf and Iran.”
Diplomatic sources, moreover, note Turkey’s limited role in the Iran crisis, in contrast to last summer’s situation, with the Trump administration appearing to reserve a significant role for Greece in the region. The head of Greek diplomacy, during his two-day presence in Washington, is expected to attend the signing ceremony of the ONEX agreement for the utilization of the port of Elefsina.
“Greece at the heart of international shipping developments, upgrading our role in the global supply chain”
As MP and Secretary of International Relations of New Democracy Tasos Chatzivasiliou told parapolitika.gr, “Gerapetritis’ presence in Washington confirms the strengthening of Greek-American relations. It’s another opportunity to discuss all pending issues in our broader region, from Gaza to the Iran crisis. G. Gerapetritis’ visit coincides with the Energy Ministerial Summit, note that this is why Mr. Papastavrou is also there, where political momentum for the Vertical Corridor is being developed. Furthermore, Gerapetritis’ presence is also connected to the official signing ceremony of the ONEX agreement: Greek foreign policy is opening the way to position Greece at the heart of international shipping developments and simultaneously upgrades our role in the global supply chain. This is the result of the targeted strategy implemented by the Mitsotakis government.”
Nevertheless, diplomatic contacts between Gerapetritis and Rubio are expected to continue in our country, as the 6th round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue will take place in the coming months, which will bring Marco Rubio to Athens.
It’s worth recalling the supportive stance of the American Secretary of State toward Greece and Cyprus, as he was a key inspiration behind the institutionalization of the 3+1 format -Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the US-, which began in 2019 when Rubio was a senator and now constitutes an important strategic investment for American policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
