The visit of the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to Athens was accompanied by a series of agreements and initiatives aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between Greece and the United States in the fields of defense, security, energy and culture.
At the heart of the visit was the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard.
The agreement was signed in the presence of the Greek Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, and the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
According to the Greek media, it paves the way for joint activities, exchange of expertise and expansion of cooperation in matters of security and defense.
Likewise, the US and Greece announced a new cooperation memorandum for security against terrorism, while the implementation of the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, considered the main pillar of military relations between the two countries, was reaffirmed.
During the 6th Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, issues related to defense, energy security, regional stability and cultural cooperation were discussed.
One of the most important developments of the visit was the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard.
The agreement was signed by the Chief of the General Staff of Greece, General Dimitrios Houpis, and the Commander of the Florida National Guard, John Haas, in the presence of the Greek Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, and Marco Rubio.
According to Dendias, the agreement opens a new chapter in the strategic cooperation between the two countries and gives an additional dimension to the reformation of the Greek Armed Forces.
Cooperation with the Florida National Guard is expected to include joint activities, exchange of expertise and coordination on matters of mutual interest, further strengthening the mosaic of Greek-American defense relations.
In their joint statements, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Rubio emphasized that Greece is a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and a key NATO ally.
Gerapetritis underlined that defense cooperation is at the highest level in the history of bilateral relations, citing the modernization of F-16 Viper aircraft and the future inclusion of F-35 aircraft in the Greek Air Force.
Energy issues took an important place in the discussions. The two sides appreciated Greece’s role as an energy hub for Southeast and Central Europe, especially through the Vertical Corridor and the transportation of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). Rubio underlined that energy security is closely related to national security and reaffirmed the American commitment to cooperation with Greece in this sector.
At the regional level, Gerapetritis emphasized Greece’s active role in maritime security and stated that Athens is ready to support operations to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, if there is a sustainable peace process. He also underlined the strategic relations with Israel and the importance of the 3+1 initiative between Greece, Cyprus, the US and Israel.
Another important result was the renewal of the Greece-USA Cultural Memorandum for the protection and return of cultural assets. During the 2021-2026 implementation period, a total of 425 cultural objects were returned to Greece, of which 98 were directly returned based on the provisions of the memorandum.
Welcome to Athens, @SecRubio! 🇺🇸🇬🇷
It is an honor to welcome Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Greece as he leads the US delegation for the Sixth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue. His visit underscores the strength of our alliance and our shared commitment to advancing @POTUS’s priorities, including defense cooperation, trade and investment, and energy cooperation.
The US-Greece partnership has never been stronger, and together we are building an even more secure and prosperous future for both our nations and the region.— Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle (@USAmbassadorGR) October 6, 2026
