Marco Rubio in Athens: First meeting with Gerapetritis, the agreements and the messages he will deliver (Update)

Gerapetritis: The Greek-American partnership has never been stronger, deeper or more cohesive

Giorgos Gerapetritis referred to the importance of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Greece, highlighting the importance of Greek-American relations and the steady expansion of cooperation between the two countries. “The visit demonstrates the relationship between our two countries and the importance that both countries attach to the future. This requires a positive dialogue,” he said.

As he noted, since 2017 cooperation between Greece and the United States has steadily grown, while the two sides are also cooperating in areas such as defense, infrastructure, digital technology and law enforcement, maritime affairs, as well as at the level of close ties between the two peoples. “The three agreements being signed today are tangible proof of this progress,” he stressed.

Rubio’s remarks with Giorgos Gerapetritis

“I am particularly happy to be in Greece. This is my first trip to the country, as I did not have the opportunity to come here as a senator. I am very pleased to be here and to be part of the 6th Strategic Dialogue. I would like to begin by expressing the hope that our presence and work here underscore how important the historic alliance between Greece and the United States is. And this is particularly true now, at a time of global uncertainty, when there is the Russia-Ukraine war, whether we are talking about the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz, or the growing tensions in Yemen because of the Houthis.

“In a time of global instability, we need very important partners with whom we have a shared history, and that is what Greece means to the United States. This close partnership is evolving across many areas: joint security and defense, trade, investment, energy and cultural exchanges. Greece is an indispensable NATO ally, a pillar of stability in the region, and a pillar of stability for the U.S. presence in the region.