Greece is prepared to provide naval assistance to the United States in the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said during talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens.
Gerapetritis said Athens could cooperate with Washington if circumstances allow and a viable peace process is in place.
“If it becomes necessary, then we are in a position to be able to cooperate with the United States so as to provide the necessary naval assistance in the Strait of Hormuz as well, provided that circumstances allow it and there is a viable peace process,” Gerapetritis said.
The statement signals a potentially significant expansion of Greece’s role in supporting international maritime security at a strategically critical waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, particularly for global energy supplies.
Greece positions itself as a security provider
Gerapetritis stressed that Greece is already contributing to international maritime operations across the Red Sea, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
He pointed specifically to Operation Aspides in the Red Sea and Operation Atalanta, saying Greece has demonstrated that it is not simply a consumer of security but a provider of security.
“Greece now has the ability, thanks to its advanced defence systems and its very strong geopolitical position, to provide security, to export security and to serve as a pillar of stability,” he said.
The foreign minister said Greece’s strategic position and defence capabilities allow it to contribute to the security of Cyprus, Bulgaria and countries in the Gulf.
Asked whether Greece could support US operations against Iran from Souda Bay if Washington launches further strikes, Gerapetritis reiterated Athens’ position in favour of international law and support for a party acting in self defence against an aggressor.
Greece US strategic partnership expands
Gerapetritis also highlighted Greece’s position on the UN Security Council and within the European Union, noting that Greece will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2027.
He pointed to Athens’ strategic partnerships with Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as part of Greece’s expanding regional role.
The foreign minister also placed particular emphasis on the Greece, Cyprus, Israel and United States 3+1 framework.
Addressing Rubio, he said the partnership has moved far beyond its original energy focus.
“With the participation of the US Secretary, the 3+1 has evolved from an energy framework into a very strong geopolitical multilateral framework that exerts substantial influence,” Gerapetritis said.
Cyprus central to Mediterranean security
Gerapetritis also linked Greece’s wider security role to the Cyprus issue, describing the Republic of Cyprus as an “integral part of the Mediterranean security architecture.”
He said any settlement must provide for the reunification of the island within the framework of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law.
Athens continues to argue that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path to lasting peace and prosperity, while warning against any revisionist attempt or threat to regional stability.
Rubio’s visit comes as Greece and the United States deepen cooperation across defence, energy and regional security, with Athens increasingly presenting itself as a strategic hub between Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
