Rubio: US Committed to Energy Partnership With Greece
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed America's commitment to energy cooperation with Greece during a joint press conference with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens on Thursday.
Rubio said the U.S. is fully dedicated to the energy partnership between the two countries, but noted that some of the issues surrounding energy interconnections involve "delicate situations" that include other unnamed countries. He added that those matters are better resolved through diplomacy than at press conferences.
"Some of these issues involve delicate situations" that are better resolved through diplomacy than at press conferences — Rubio
Gerapetritis said bilateral cooperation has reached an "unprecedented level," highlighting Greece's role as the backbone of American LNG transport to Central and Eastern Europe through the vertical energy corridor. He also noted that the Greek-owned merchant fleet carries more than 20% of LNG to global markets.
On defense, Gerapetritis pointed to Souda Bay and Alexandroupolis as critical nodes in the U.S. security architecture in the region, and confirmed that Greece's ongoing F-16 Viper upgrades and the coming integration of F-35 fifth-generation fighters reflect the depth of the two countries' defense relationship.
Gerapetritis also raised Cyprus, calling it an integral part of Eastern Mediterranean security and calling for reunification under UN Security Council resolutions to end what he described as the illegal occupation of the island. He said international law and diplomacy are the only path to restoring peace.
On the Middle East, Gerapetritis said Greece and the U.S. share a common view, backing a second phase of the Gaza plan and calling for an end to actions in the West Bank that obstruct peace. He also said Greece is prepared to assist the U.S. navy at the Strait of Hormuz if a viable peace process emerges.
