The plane carrying US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken landed yesterday at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens, where he was met by US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis.
Blinken tweeted:
“Good evening Greece. This is my first visit to the home of democracy as Secretary of State. The United States and Greece are working together to advance our common goals of peace and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Balkans, the Black Sea region and beyond.”
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Mr. Dendias and Mr. Panagiotopoulos, will also be present at the meeting, which will discuss many issues of the country’s foreign policy and defense.
At the center of the agenda will be Greek-American relations and the recognition of Athens’ role as a factor in security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. The parties intend to confirm their further strengthening of bilateral strategic cooperation, the cornerstone of which is the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA).
Discussions on the weapons program will also be on the agenda: Athens is awaiting an official US response on the F-35 and is openly expressing its interest in the new C-130J transport aircraft.
Mr. Blinken’s visit to Athens coincides with the completion of the Sanco Swift exploration in south and west Crete. Greece is becoming the most important center guaranteeing the security of energy transportation, and a key player in the efforts to free Europe from Russian gas. Discussions with the US Secretary of State will highlight the need to support the energy schemes with Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, through which Greece plays a key role in the energy sector.
It is also planned to discuss Ankara’s revisionism and Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inflammatory rhetoric, despite the “truce” in Greek-Turkish relations after the devastating earthquake. The focus will be on efforts to bring the two sides closer while the Aegean is calm and discussing the timing of elections in Turkey. Mr. Blinken may get an idea on these issues after his contacts with Mevlut Cavusoglu and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Greek side is ready to reaffirm its readiness to revive Greek-Turkish relations, while making it clear: “The ball is on the side of Ankara, which must prove by actions and consistency that it is ready for a new approach.”
Greece is an important hub for the movement of US and NATO forces to Eastern Europe at a time of rapid geopolitical developments triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is expected that, in addition to recognizing the most important role of our country in the Alliance, Mr. Blinken will reiterate the need to support Kiev with arms supplies, and also raise the issue of Sweden and Finland’s membership in NATO – Greece supported him from the very beginning.
The Greek Prime Minister is expected to highlight the country’s firm stance in supporting Ukraine’s struggle to defend its territorial sovereignty. Greece was one of the first countries to send materials and ammunition to Kyiv, and also continues the exchange of BMP-1 for Marder, which has not yet been completed.
On the eve of Anthony Blinken’s visit to Athens, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander visited Greece. She visited sites of American interest in Alexandroupolis and Larisa, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias and the Chief of the General Staff. Ms. Wallander is expected to accompany the US Secretary of State to his meetings in Athens.
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