File photo. [InTime News]
“Greece has emerged as a key regional energy hub and is positioning itself as a premier energy gateway to Europe,” said US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle in remarks during the event “Nisyros Dialogues – Bridging the East Med” on Tuesday evening. Referring to Chinese investment in Piraeus, she said a new port should be built to balance Chinese influence.
“Greece exemplifies President [Donald] Trump’s vision of peace through strength, as demonstrated by its investments and its military and its commitment to shared security. Greece is an indispensable ally. Together, we stand ready to face any challenges as strategic partners,” she said.
She said that Trump has made it abundantly clear that energy security equals national security, emphasizing that American LNG, Eastern Mediterranean resources, and European infrastructure are central to this new transatlantic reality. “These are not competing visions. They are mutually reinforcing pillars of a new, more secure energy architecture, with support from the US.”
As she noted, the results are already tangible, with LNG exports to Europe reaching historic levels. She added that the energy deals with ExxonMobil and Chevron are the result of this strategic cooperation. “Together, we have accelerated diversification away from Russian gas, while strengthening long-term transatlantic energy ties.”
She also referred to the energy deal between Athens and Kyiv, under which LNG will be transported from Greece to Odesa via the Vertical Corridor. She added that communication is ongoing with other countries along the corridor and efforts are underway to strengthen it. “This is just the beginning. We’re starting now. These long-term deals are significant, and you’ll be seeing their benefits for years to come.”
‘They’re smart, they saw the opportunity, they came into Greece. But to be fair, it was at a time where the economy wasn’t doing as well here as it is today, and that was the only bidder’
“Greece has exceeded even our high expectations coming from the United States of America,” she said, noting that the country has committed to 5% of GDP spending on defense. “The United States will always stand by its ally Greece, an incredible country and the birthplace of democracy.”
“As US ambassador to Greece, I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that the United States of America and Greece remain the strongest of possible allies. Greece’s maritime strength, democratic stability, and resilient people make it a vital partner in advancing our shared goals.”
She cited the Elefsina shipyards as a prime example of American investment, noting that they have been transformed into a thriving shipyard providing high-quality jobs to the local community. “Our foreign policy has entered a new era, an era not of words, but of deeds and results.”
“Every day, when I wake up in the morning, I’m going to find a way to push American interests, money, infrastructure, to work with Greece and the rest of our allies in this region, and that means pushing back very aggressively against Chinese interests,” she said.
“I’m going to do that every single day, and I’m going to do it unapologetically, because that is my job and it is what’s best for national security,” the US ambassador added.
Asked about Chinese investment in Piraeus, she said: “They’re smart, they saw the opportunity, they came into Greece. But to be fair, it was at a time where the economy wasn’t doing as well here as it is today, and that was the only bidder.”
“Unfortunately, they were able to succeed. So, what can you do about it? Well, learn the lessons,” she noted. “When foreign countries try to invest money in your country, you review and evaluate it. They’re doing that now, but they didn’t have such measures in place back then. There was no stopgap to prevent it. What we can do now is invest in money and infrastructure to build another port that can counter the outputs from Piraeus with Chinese interests, while also implementing a long-term plan.”