What the Americans and Greek shipowners talked about behind closed doors in Zappion

Behind closed doors in Zappione a meeting took place between the US Secretary of the Interior and the head of the Energy Sovereignty Council Doug Burgum with seven key representatives Greek shipping within the 6th Government Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC).

The new ambassador was also present from the US side Kimberly Guilfoyle. Participated from Greece Georgios Prokopiou, Maria Angelicusi, Nikos Tsakos, Yiannis Alafouzos, Petros Pappas, Ioanna Prokopiou and vice president Union of Greek Shipowners Michalis Handris.

Opening up the conversation Burgum stressed that instability in maritime routes (including attacks on merchant ships in Red Sea) increases costs for allies and strengthens opponents. According to him, “the West needs strategic stability,” and shipping — the central link in the energy security chain. He specifically noted the Greek contribution: with a small population, the country controls about 25% of the world’s fleet is internationally flagged.

Georgios Prokopiou recalled historical connections Greece And USA and proposed a pragmatic scheme: preemptive commercial arrangement Greek tankers and gas carriers. “Floating pipelines» can be deployed immediately, without years of infrastructure investment and at a lower cost. This, he said, will allow the United States to quickly increase energy supplies to its allies.

Nikos Tsakos (Tsakos Energy Navigation) called the meeting “historic”: the industry that transports 60–80% of global cargo and energyis often left without a political voice. He supported the idea of ​​greater interaction with American shipyards and offered training places for American cadets on board Greek ships: “Instead of empty voyages to Asia, we can directly meet US needs, reducing both costs and emissions.”

Maria Angelicusi (Angelicoussis Group) emphasized people and competencies: Greek companies are family-owned, flexible, with deep expertise. “Our group alone transported about 10% of US energy exports per year, making about 700 safe entry into US terminals.” She confirmed her readiness for joint programs with US maritime academies and emphasized that talent is the key to sustainable growth.

Concluding the meeting, Petros Pappas (Star Bulk) recalled that the Greek fleet is a backbone element of the global economy: only its company manages more 150 shipsand the industry’s contribution allows Greece to actually operate “more than 1% of world GDP» through transportation. He said he hoped the talks would be the start of “real transatlantic cooperation” in shipbuilding and energy logistics.

Bottom line. For Washington Greek tanker and gas fleet – a way to quickly increase allies’ energy dependence on the United Statesand also eliminate (weaken) competitorsfirst of all Russia and Middle East countries.

For Athens – a chance to secure your status key US energy carrier, capitalizing the fleet and competencies. Maritime logistics is returning to the center of big politics again, at least in promises from Washington.

How did they influence the Greek shipowners? Most likely, the traditional “carrot and stick” method, on the one hand, with the promise of transferring to them significant contracts for transportation of American oil and gasand on the other sanctions.

What did the shipowners decide? It is unknown yet. After all, everyone knows perfectly well what it is “a gentleman’s word”which can change the “rules of the game”, because it is he master of his word.

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