US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new counterterrorism information-sharing memorandum with Greece during talks in Athens. His meeting with Giorgos Gerapetritis formed part of the countries’ sixth Strategic Dialogue. The ministers discussed border security and human trafficking alongside defence and energy cooperation. Greece’s military facilities, energy connections toward Europe and security of maritime transport were among the main subjects of the bilateral meeting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new counterterrorism memorandum with Greece in Athens on Wednesday. The arrangement aims to increase information sharing between the relevant agencies. Rubio met Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and also discussed cooperation on border security, human trafficking and transnational criminal organisations.[1], [2]
The ministers’ meeting lasted approximately two hours within the sixth US–Greece Strategic Dialogue. Gerapetritis described the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement as the basic bilateral framework for defence relations. He highlighted the strategic importance of Alexandroupolis in northern Greece and modernisation of its air force. Rubio said European countries should assume a greater share of the continent’s defence burden and described Greece as moving in that direction.[1]
Gerapetritis said Greece serves as a hub carrying American liquefied natural gas toward central and eastern Europe. He cited US energy companies in Greece and investments in energy, technology and shipyards. Rubio argued that gas and electricity connections contribute to regional energy security. The ministers discussed the Middle East, Ukraine, Africa and migration. Gerapetritis linked security of maritime transport to protection of supply chains.[1]
