US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Greece on Tuesday, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to bolster the strategic and defense partnership between the United States and Greece. This visit aligns with the sixth round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, which is set to take place on Wednesday at the Greek Foreign Ministry.
The discussions during Rubio’s visit are expected to encompass a wide range of topics, pivotal among them being regional security, defense, and energy cooperation. A key focus is anticipated to be on defense agreements, particularly those involving Greece’s acquisition of military equipment. This includes purchases of missiles and self-protection systems for Greece’s F-35 aircraft, as well as upgrades to the F-16 Viper jets. Additionally, talks will likely cover the support for military hardware such as Black Hawk and MH-60R helicopters.
Apart from defense, the dialogue is expected to address other areas of mutual interest. This includes the exchange of archaeological materials and the enhancement of cooperation between the Greek Armed Forces and the US National Guard. An agreement on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ professional certificates is also on the agenda, reflecting the broad scope of collaboration between the two nations.
Rubio is also scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Their discussions are likely to focus on reducing Greece’s reliance on China while simultaneously expanding bilateral cooperation with the United States. This aspect of the visit underscores the strategic importance both countries place on diversifying partnerships in the face of global economic dynamics.