In a wide-ranging agenda that included all bilateral issues, the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Greece and the United States, George Gerapetritis and Marco Rubio, took place yesterday at the White House and lasted almost an hour. Both sides certified the high level of cooperation and the “very constructive relationship” that has developed between them, as George Gerapetritis characterized it in his statements immediately afterward, noting once again that US-Greece relations are at their highest possible level.
As evident from George Gerapetritis’ statements, at the top of the agenda were issues that fall under the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue and are expected to be discussed in the 6th round, which is scheduled to take place “within the year” in Athens, with Marco Rubio’s participation. Among these is the defense cooperation between the two countries, based on which Greek infrastructure is utilized, such as the Souda Bay Base.
US interest in the IMEC corridor and Greece’s significance as a “geostrategic hub”
Given the explosive situation in US-Iran relations, with the threat of war looming, the two ministers discussed developments and, as diplomatic sources noted, “the importance of Greece as a geostrategic hub for relations with Eastern Mediterranean countries was highlighted, given Greece’s bilateral and trilateral cooperation with regional countries.” The interest of the head of American diplomacy also focused on the American-inspired IMEC Economic Corridor, whose creation will provide commercial connection between Western countries and India, and in which Greece is making efforts to become part of.
As Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stated yesterday, Marco Rubio is an exceptionally knowledgeable person regarding regional issues, particularly those concerning the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek-American executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, Eddie Zemenides, argues to parapolitika.gr that the changes made in the Trump administration, such as the elimination of the Assistant Secretary for Europe position, complicate the American Secretary of State’s work in conducting the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, especially since Marco Rubio has taken on many portfolios. “We see Secretary Marco Rubio, who knows our region very well, having the role of Secretary of State, but simultaneously also having the role of chief National Security Advisor within the White House. And what we know is that he is found more often inside the White House than at the State Department,” he notes.
“Greece takes on a diplomatic role, because of Souda”
According to Mr. Zemenides, the issues that American diplomacy has set as priorities regarding Greece are the role it is called to play in the explosive situation in the Middle East and particularly with Iran, because, as he explains, “Greece takes on a diplomatic role, because of Souda,” while high on the American agenda is also imposing peace in the Gaza Strip, although, as he clarifies, “no one has understood whether anything has emerged on this issue after the session that took place here, in Washington, of the ‘Peace Council’.”
As Mr. Zemenides maintains, for the Trump administration, as well as for previous US administrations, Greece’s position remains stable regarding its contribution to US foreign policy. Nevertheless, he believes that the Trump administration has “given a vote of confidence” to Greece’s role regarding energy policy and particularly in the operation of the Vertical Corridor and the transport of American LNG.
