The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, arrived on Tuesday in Athens for a two-day visit, where he will participate in the sixth round of the Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the United States.
At the “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport, he was received by the Greek Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, the American ambassador in Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle, as well as senior officials from both countries.
Official meetings begin on Wednesday at the Greek Foreign Ministry, where Rubio will hold talks with his Greek counterpart and then give joint statements to the media.
A meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also on the agenda, where bilateral relations and regional developments are expected to be discussed.
Defense cooperation, energy security and the geopolitical situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East are the key topics of the talks.
The parties will also address issues related to trade, investment, technology, maritime transport and Greece’s role as an energy hub for Southeast Europe.
Special attention will be paid to military cooperation, including Greece’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet program and the strategic importance of the bases in Suda and Alexandroupolis.
Within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue, three agreements are expected to be signed: for the protection of the Greek cultural heritage and the fight against the trafficking of archaeological objects, for the cooperation between the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard, as well as for the mutual recognition of certificates of maritime competence.
