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Those criticizing the government by claiming that it has aligned itself too closely with US President Donald Trump are choosing to ignore the special circumstances that Greece finds itself in and is having to manage. Our country has every reason to simultaneously rely on two geopolitical pillars, serving policies that are neither contradictory nor in competition with one another.<\/p>\n
One of these pillars is the United States and Athens\u2019 traditional relationship with Washington, which has been endowed with strategic characteristics by different governments over the past decade.<\/p>\n
This deepening of the relationship has not just been at the level of mere rhetoric and official announcements, but also through the promotion of specific institutional partnerships and frameworks, such as the bilateral Strategic Dialogue as well as legislative acts passed by Congress regarding the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p>\n
Continuing to nurture and deepen the Greek-American relationship is something that brings measurable results; this is a reality that various Greek administrations have recognized and effectively utilized.<\/p>\n
The second pillar is Greece\u2019s participation as an equal partner in the European Union. This not only enhances the country\u2019s geopolitical clout, it also, among other things, allows it to serve as a gateway to European markets for key regional players, a role these countries acknowledge.<\/p>\n
Athens is not merely aligned with the core European positions; it actively helps shape the EU\u2019s stance on major issues, while maintaining the right to adopt a somewhat different approach when specific circumstances warrant it.<\/p>\n
Being positioned at a vital geographical crossroads where different and rival geopolitical, commercial and even religious interests intersect, Athens is regarded as a valuable partner in the broader region by the United States as much as by the European Union.<\/p>\n
The trilateral partnerships that Greece, along with Cyprus, has spent many years developing with Israel and also with Egypt serve the purpose of regional stability. At the same time, it is clear that Greece is not building any regional partnership with the intent of turning it against any other neighbors. If some choose to interpret these initiatives in a different way in order to serve their own strategies, this does not mean they speak for Greece or Cyprus.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s unpredictable and dangerous world, it is best to avoid excessive criticism regarding matters of national security. The domestic political scene offers ample material for politically motivated criticism and intense confrontation.<\/p>\n
Conversely, managing the volatile landscape created by the specific actions of neighboring countries demands strategic maneuvering and the targeted utilization of relationships with the US and the EU. These issues do not lend themselves to facile or populist criticism, especially from figures and parties that have governed in the past or aspire to do so in the future.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n