US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected in Athens on October 6 for a high level visit focused on defence cooperation, energy, the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Greece US strategic relationship.
Rubio is expected to arrive in the Greek capital on Tuesday evening, ahead of the sixth Greece US Strategic Dialogue scheduled for October 7. He is expected to leave Greece on October 8 following a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The visit comes as Greece and the United States navigate a wide range of regional issues, including security in the Eastern Mediterranean, energy connectivity and developments involving Greece and Turkey.
Defence cooperation at the centre
A major focus will be defence cooperation under the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, including the military facilities and support Greece provides to the United States.
The broader defence relationship is expected to feature prominently in the sixth Strategic Dialogue, which was launched in 2018 and has become a key channel for bilateral strategic coordination.
The discussions come as Greece continues to expand and modernise its defence capabilities and deepen military cooperation with the United States.
Energy and the Great Sea Interconnector
Energy is also expected to feature prominently.
Greek planning on the possible extension of territorial waters south of Crete to 12 nautical miles and the future of seabed surveys connected to the Greece Cyprus Great Sea Interconnector are among the issues expected to be discussed.
Washington has expressed support for regional energy connectivity while also promoting US liquefied natural gas exports.
The Great Sea Interconnector, linking the electricity grids of Greece, Cyprus and Israel, has become a major strategic and geopolitical issue in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece Turkey tensions
The timing of Rubio’s visit also places Greece Turkey relations high on the regional agenda.
Washington has an interest in avoiding tensions between NATO allies while maintaining cooperation on energy security and regional connectivity.
The talks are therefore expected to address the wider security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean, alongside bilateral defence and energy issues.
Ukraine and Middle East also on agenda
Regional conflicts are also expected to feature in Rubio’s discussions in Athens.
Developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as wider regional security concerns, are expected to form part of the discussions with Greek officials.
Rubio is expected to meet Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis as part of the Strategic Dialogue, before holding talks with Mitsotakis.
The visit comes as Athens and Washington prepare for another round of talks covering defence, energy, regional security and the wider strategic relationship between Greece and the United States.
