Rubio pledges US diplomatic efforts to advance Great Sea Interconnector

Washington, United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that his country will undertake diplomatic efforts to advance construction of the Great Sea Interconnector, which would connect the energy grids of Cyprus, Greece and Israel if completed.

Energy diversification a priority

Speaking to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Rubio said recent events had highlighted the need to diversify how the world obtains its energy.

“The war between Russia and Ukraine and what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz with Iran and in the Red Sea with the Houthis are reminders of that,” he said.

He also stressed the need to diversify supply chains, describing this as a very important priority and another example of overlapping US and Greek interests.

“We are very committed to that. We understand that there are potential obstacles, some things which stand in the way. We intend to use our diplomatic efforts to remind all parties how important this is to us and why it is important, and I hope we can find solutions,” Rubio said.

Preference for private diplomacy

Rubio said some of the issues were not best resolved through the media and should instead be addressed privately and quietly through diplomacy.

“This is very important, as we need to prioritise commitments from many countries,” he said.

Asked whether the United States could mediate between the countries involved in the Great Sea Interconnector project and Turkey, Rubio said he avoided discussing sensitive issues in the media because doing so made them harder to resolve.

He said the United States remained in constant contact with Turkey, a Nato member that had dealt with many other issues, including hosting talks between Russia and Ukraine in the past.

“Our relationship with Turkey is a relationship in which we have invested, and perhaps that investment will help us in terms of these discussions,” he said.

Rubio reiterated that while public statements were possible, reaching a solution was often better pursued through direct, private conversations.

“That is how diplomacy works best,” he said.