Rubio visits Athens for talks on defence, energy and regional security

Athens, Greece. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Athens on Tuesday evening for talks covering defence, energy, regional security and broader bilateral cooperation. The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical challenges, instability and shifting regional dynamics.

Priorities for bilateral cooperation

The United States has identified defence cooperation, regional security and energy security as the main pillars of the visit. The broader agenda also includes connectivity, investment, technology and wider geopolitical developments.

Athens is seeking to highlight Greece’s role as a stable and reliable strategic partner of the United States in southeastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Rubio has described Greece as a “very important ally” of the United States.

The visit is expected to reaffirm the high level of Greece-US bilateral relations and open the way for further cooperation across a range of sectors.

Tour does not include Ankara

Rubio’s October 5-8 tour includes Reykjavik, Athens and Lisbon, with no corresponding visit to Ankara.

The absence of a stop in the Turkish capital adds political symbolism to the Athens visit, but does not in itself indicate a change in US policy towards Turkey.

Meetings and Strategic Dialogue

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis welcomed Rubio on his arrival in Athens. The official programme begins on Wednesday morning with a bilateral meeting between the two at the foreign ministry.

Joint statements to the press will follow, ahead of the launch of the sixth round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue. Its first plenary session will focus on regional and international developments.

Separate working sessions involving senior officials from both countries will address regional affairs, international developments, security and law enforcement, energy, shipping, technology, trade, investment and defence. They will also cover further strengthening ties between the two peoples.