Kimberly Guilfoyle appeared today at the traditional hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as she is in the final stretch for confirmation of her appointment as ambassador of the United States to Greece.
In her opening statement, Kimberly praised the role of the Greek diaspora in the USA and the development of the country’s economy, spoke about her respect for Orthodoxy and religious freedoms, while committing to work for further strengthening relations between the two peoples.
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Referring to her personal journey, she spoke about her parents – her Puerto Rican mother, a special education teacher, and her father, an immigrant from Ireland – and emphasized her obligation to continue the values they instilled in her.
She characterized her candidacy for the embassy in Greece as a “unique honor,” emphasizing that Greece, birthplace of democracy, embodies the fundamental principles of freedom, self-governance, and the rule of law. “These values echo through the centuries and inspired the founders of the American nation,” she said.
Guilfoyle praised the geopolitical significance of Greece, characterizing it as a “pillar of stability” in a complex region, and emphasized its critical role in the NATO Alliance. She noted that Greece ranks among the top countries in defense spending within the Alliance, with projections for 3% of GDP in 2025 and a target of 5%, according to commitments made in The Hague.
She referred to significant purchases of American defense equipment – F-35 fighter jets, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, as well as modern ships – and highlighted the importance of the joint Constellation-class frigate co-production project, which strengthens US-Greece industrial cooperation. “If confirmed, it will be my priority to further accelerate the modernization of Greek defense,” she stated.
Energy and investments
Guilfoyle also highlighted progress in energy cooperation, mentioning the LNG terminal at Revythousa and the floating FSRU unit at Alexandroupoli, which facilitate US natural gas exports to Europe. She noted that the US already covers 20% of Greece’s natural gas market, compared to just 2% five years ago.
“If confirmed, I will work with Greece on the commercial development of investments in key natural gas pipelines, such as the so-called ‘Vertical Corridor’ connecting Greece with Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Central Europe,” she said.
At the same time, she emphasized the importance of Greece’s electrical interconnections with Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, which enhance regional energy security.
Guilfoyle, a well-known journalist and lawyer, as well as former partner of Donald Trump Jr., was one of five candidates who went through the hearing process before the Committee regarding other countries as well. The session began with introductory statements from senators introducing the approval of each candidacy, before the candidates proceeded to presentation and questions.
However, in Guilfoyle’s case, there was a small hiccup, as Senator Bill Hagerty, who had undertaken to present her, was delayed due to a personal family matter. When he finally appeared, he praised her profile, speaking of “an experienced journalist, excellent in political strategy and with capabilities in the legal field.”
Hagerty also noted Kimberly Guilfoyle’s close ties with the Greek community of the United States, emphasizing that “this makes her an excellent choice for the embassy in Athens.” As he said, “we worked together and from the beginning she helped me in new chapters of my journey.”
