Official photo of the US State Department: Rubio–Gerapetritis, 02/26/2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to visit Athens early October: negotiations will focus on defense cooperation, Souda and Alexandroupoli, migration, energy and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to information SKAIthe most likely visit window is considered October 6–8however, the exact dates have not yet been officially announced by the US State Department. Preparations for the visit, according to Greek media, are already at an advanced stage.
— Marco Rubio is expected in Athens on first ten days of October;
— exact dates have not yet been confirmed by the State Department;
— the main frame of the visit — 6th Greece-US Strategic Dialogue;
— among the key topics are defense, Courts, Alexandroupolis and energy;
— migration, drug trafficking and control at airports will be discussed separately;
— the international part of the agenda includes the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye, Ukraine and the Middle East.
Sixth Strategic Dialogue
The main political event of the visit should be 6th Greece-US Strategic Dialogue. It is around this that Rubio’s current trip is being built.
The Greek Foreign Ministry officially reported back in February that Rubio expressed his readiness to come to Greece to continue the Strategic Dialogue. Then the parties discussed bilateral cooperation, energy and regional events.
Rubio is expected to meet with the Foreign Minister in Athens Giorgos Gerapetritis. A meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also being considered.
Souda and Alexandroupoli
Military cooperation will be one of the central blocks of negotiations.
Of particular importance for Washington are Souda naval base on Crete and port Alexandroupoliswhich in recent years has emerged as an important logistics hub for the US and NATO in Southeastern Europe.
Athens News has already written in detail why Alexandroupolis role irritates Ankara: The port allows the transfer of military cargo to Eastern Europe and the Balkans, reducing dependence on routes through Turkey.
In addition, during the summer, US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle visited military installations in Alexandroupolis. The Athens News reported on her visit to Greek and American units and facilities in the port.
Migration and internal security
A separate block of negotiations will be devoted to internal security. According to SKAI, Rubio may be accompanied by two US Undersecretaries of Homeland Securitywhich in itself shows the importance of this part of the agenda.
Discussion expected:
- illegal migration and border protection;
- combating drug trafficking;
- strengthening controls at Greek airports;
- exchange of information on persons suspected of terrorist activities.
SKAI also links this block with recent contacts between the Greek Anti-Terrorism Service and American colleagues on issues of operational data exchange.
Energy
Washington continues to view Greece as one of the key energy hubs of Southeastern Europe.
We are talking primarily about LNG supplies, terminals, interconnectors and routes towards the Balkans and Central Europe. Alexandroupolis here has a double meaning – both military and energy.
That’s why the Strategic Dialogue goes far beyond ordinary diplomatic meetings: Greek infrastructure becomes part of a broader American strategy in the region.
Türkiye and the Eastern Mediterranean
It is expected that a special place in the negotiations will be occupied by Greek-Turkish relations.
The visit comes at a time of new tensions over the Eastern Mediterranean, the status of the islands and Turkish statements about Greek military activity. Washington traditionally strives to maintain working relations with both Athens and Ankara, so the Greek side will closely monitor Rubio’s language.
Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East are also expected to be on the broader international agenda.
Why is the visit important now?
In February, Rubio and Gerapetritis already discussed holding a Strategic Dialogue, but the original dates were postponed. Now preparations for the visit have intensified, and the September trip of American Deputy Secretary of State Alison Hooker to Greece is seen as one of the preparatory stages.
The visit is also interesting given the fact that Marco Rubio recently mentioned Greece publiclyciting the Thessaloniki murder as an example of the problem of political extremism discussed by Washington.
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