US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected in Athens on Tuesday, October 6, with his visit set to mark a new chapter in US-Greece relations and open up the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda. Speaking to reporters shortly before departing for Reykjavik as part of his European tour, Rubio stated: “Greece is a very important ally of the United States — we not only have a strong military presence there but also strong economic ties, and this is an opportunity to see them there.”
Read also: 6th Round of the Greece–US Strategic Dialogue: The Gerapetritis-Rubio meeting and the strategic depth of relations between the two countries
FULL REMARKS: Secretary Rubio Answers Questions at Joint Base Andrews Before Departing for Iceland, Greece, and Portugal https://t.co/uoiWyP5zq3
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 5, 2026
Rubio’s packed agenda for his Athens visit
The US Secretary of State’s visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical activity in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek-Turkish relations, energy security, and bilateral defense cooperation are among the key pillars of the US-Greece dialogue.
According to a statement from the US State Department, Rubio will hold talks with senior Greek government officials. During his stay in Athens, he is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greece–US Strategic Dialogue takes center stage
The centerpiece of the visit will be the 6th Round of the Greece–US Strategic Dialogue, which was first launched in December 2018.
The 6th Round of the Greece–US Strategic Dialogue will cover a broad range of bilateral cooperation areas, with dedicated working sessions attended by senior officials from both countries. Topics on the agenda include Regional Issues, People-to-People Ties, International Developments, Security and Law Enforcement, Energy, Shipping, Technology, Trade and Investment, and Defense.
As part of the Strategic Dialogue, the following agreements are set to be signed:
- Renewal of a Memorandum of Cooperation on the imposition of import restrictions on categories of archaeological and ethnological material dating up to the 15th century AD.
- A Letter of Intent between Greece and the United States to establish cooperation between the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates of competency under the International STCW Convention of 1978, aimed at facilitating employment and strengthening bilateral cooperation in maritime education and training.
Key issues on the table
Energy developments in the broader region are expected to dominate discussions during Marco Rubio’s visit to Athens. Among the topics likely to be raised is the Vertical Energy Corridor for the transport of American LNG to the Balkans and Eastern Europe — a project of significant geopolitical and energy importance.
The agenda is also expected to include hydrocarbon exploration in the maritime zones that Greece has licensed for research and exploitation, with particular focus on the activities of US energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron.
American support for these exploration efforts carries additional weight in light of objections raised by Libya, citing the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum — an agreement that Athens considers illegal and without legal standing.
Defense cooperation will also be a particularly significant chapter of the Greece–US Strategic Dialogue, having been substantially strengthened and deepened in recent years.
According to reports, Athens aims to explore the possibility of acquiring additional equipment and weapons systems for its upgraded F-16 Viper fighter jets, as well as for the F-35s currently on order. Further issues related to deepening bilateral defense cooperation are also expected to be raised.
Overall, the talks are expected to highlight Greece’s growing role in US energy and defense planning for the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe — at a time when geopolitical balances in the region are in constant flux.
What government spokesperson Marinakis said about Rubio’s visit
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis described the visit as particularly significant given the timing, commenting ahead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s arrival in Athens.
He noted that the foreign ministers of the two countries will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, followed by a joint press conference, after which they will formally launch the sixth round of the strategic dialogue. Later the same day, Prime Minister Mitsotakis will also meet with Marco Rubio.
The government spokesperson emphasized that the strategic relationship between Greece and the United States is continually growing stronger, as evidenced by a series of major developments — including landmark energy agreements with leading American corporations.
