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In the unfolding volatile and unpredictable geopolitical environment, calls for Greece to methodically plan the appropriate strategy to deal with the new realities are growing.<\/p>\n
To prove successful, everyone within the ruling New Democracy party and, more importantly, the government itself, has to be on board.<\/p>\n
The upcoming visit to New York and Washington by the Greek foreign minister offers an opportunity to highlight the country\u2019s role as a member of the UN Security Council \u2013 in May it will assume the body\u2019s rotating presidency \u2013 and also as a reliable partner and a stabilizing force in the region.<\/p>\n
At the same time the country\u2019s top diplomat should try to coordinate with the Greek-American community and utilize its added value in the decision-making process, especially in Congress. In a recent conference co-organized by Kathimerini in Washington, three senators and four members of the House of Representatives, from both parties, spoke at length about the importance of the bilateral relationship and the mutual benefits it offers.<\/p>\n
Following the change in the way the new US administration approaches many issues, the arguments and the priorities the foreign minister puts forward should be framed differently than in previous years.<\/p>\n
The emphasis should be on common interests and the assets and capabilities Athens brings to the table. Three examples come to mind.<\/p>\n
First, given its geographical location in the East Med and Southeast Europe, an area of interest to the US due to the explosive situation in the Middle East and the efforts in ending the war in Ukraine, Greece can prove useful on a strategic level; it is also an entry point for American LNG to European markets.<\/p>\n
Second, maritime security, an important part of the puzzle of global trade and thus development, is a common interest. Greece, as the country with the largest commercial fleet in the world \u2013 controlling 28% of the total tonnage \u2013 is an ardent proponent of ensuring the safety of international shipping routes. As the world economy depends on the smooth operation of the global supply chain, the US and Greece are on the same page. The latter is not only genuinely interested in ensuring that trade routes are safe; it has actively protected them with is naval forces in regions like the Red Sea.<\/p>\n
Third, both Greece and the Trump administration care deeply about the protection of Christians in the wider Middle East. These days the issue is more pressing in Syria, but it is definitely not confined to that country.<\/p>\n
The sooner Greece gets itself established on the map in a way that conforms with the challenges of the times as they are being framed lately, the more chances it has to reap geopolitical benefits.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n