Bilateral Relations – Greece in the USA

Political Relations

Greece-US bilateral relations are today at their highest point, following the significant boost given in various sectors during recent years. Greece has established itself as a reliable ally, thus confirming its strategic and stabilizing role in the wider region.

The bilateral relations between Greece and the US are founded on longstanding cooperation and date back to the philhellenic movement that was prevalent in Europe and America in the early 19th century, in support of the Greek people’s struggle for independence. The two countries’ common values of Freedom and Democracy (unlike the autocratic regimes driven by revisionism), along with their comradeship-in-arms during the two World Wars, as well as their membership in NATO, the OSCE and other international organizations and multilateral treaties, comprise the strong foundations of the Greek-US strategic cooperation.

Following the inclusion of Greece in the Visa Waiver Program, since March 2010, Greek citizens are eligible to visit the US for tourism or professional reasons without a visa. The only requirement needed for Greek citizens wishing to visit the US is an application for authorization in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) web portal.

Frequent contacts, exchanges of visits and an extensive institutional framework contribute to the positive reinforcement of bilateral relations and enhanced cooperation in the political, economic, commercial, business and cultural sectors.

The successful visit of Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis to Washington on May 15-18, 2022, affirmed the positive development of our bilateral relations and set a milestone in their further enhancement. The historic speech Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis delivered at the joint session of the US Congress (the first ever for a Greek PM) along with the high-level meetings the Prime Minister held with the US President and Vice President and the Speaker of the US House, not only reflect the powerful image of Greece in the USA, but also the prospects for the further strategic upgrading of our country in the USA.

The excellent level of relations was also confirmed during the visit of the American Secretary of State Mr. Anthony Blinken to Athens on February 21, 2023.

On the part of the US, during his last official trip abroad, the then U.S. President Barack Obama visited Greece (15-16 November 2016), describing it as “a historical visit to the Cradle of Democracy”. The American President reiterated the American support for the Greek government’s efforts to rejuvenate the economy and expressed the appreciation on behalf of the US for the generosity of the Greek government and the Greek people towards the refugees and migrants.

The first Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the US was held on December 2018 in Washington, comprising of representatives from several Ministries, marking the upgrading of our bilateral cooperation. The topics discussed pertained to regional co-operation, defense and security, law enforcement and counter-terrorism, trade and investment, energy, environment, civil society, challenges posed in humanitarian level and natural disasters preparedness.

Since then three more rounds of the Strategic Dialogue have taken place (in October 2019 in Athens, in October 2021 in Washington and in February 2023 in Athens). Hence, the Strategic Dialogue constitutes the cornerstone of the US-Greece strategic partnership.

In addition, the USA maintains the Souda Air and Naval Facility in Chania.

Finally, the EU-US relations -within the framework of the Transatlantic Dialogue- cover a wide range of political, economic and commercial issues, as well as security issues and institutionalized contacts on many levels.

Economic Relations

In the context of improving our trade and economic relations with the USA and further attracting American investments, the USA was the honored country at the Thessaloniki International Fair (September 8-16, 2018) with a theme related to modern technology and innovation. The event was attended, among others, by the US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, the Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes, the Senator Ron Johnson, the Assistant Secretary of State for Cultural and Educational Affairs Marie Royce. The exhibitors included leading American companies from the fields of modern technology, defense, tourism, pharmaceutical industry, which participated with special pavilions and organised a series of events, most notably the Southeast Energy Forum and the round table with Greek-American businessmen.

For information on bilateral economic relations, you can visit the AGORA internet portal.

Office E.C.A. New York

Office E.C.A. San Francisco

Office E.C.A. Washington

Office E.C.A. Chicago

Cultural Relations and Greek Community

The large and flourishing Greek-American community in the US, predominantly concentrated in the areas of New York, Chicago, Boston, the State of Florida, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston, is an important link between the peoples of the two countries, whose contribution to bilateral relations is indispensable. Many Greek Americans have distinguished themselves in their fields of enterprise, including business, culture and politics.

Faculties and Programs of Greek Studies, in the fields of Philosophy, Ancient and Modern Greek Language and Culture, Classic and Byzantine studies, History of Art etc. operate in a number of prestigious American Universities, namely those of Stanford, UCLA, Georgetown, New York, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Illinois and others.

Furthermore, significant museum exhibitions have been organized in cooperation with distinguished American museums, notably “The Greeks: from Agamemnon to Alexander the Great” (Chicago Field Museum of National History, National Geographic Museum Washington DC), “Heaven and Earth, Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections” (National Gallery of Art-Washington DC, Museum J. Paul Getty-Los Angeles, Art Institute of Chicagο).

Useful Information

Click here for information regarding the visa requirements for Greek citizens who want to travel to the USA.

Click here for information regarding visa requirements for citizens of USA who want to travel to Greece.

Head of Mission: Antonis Alexandridis, Ambassador

Head of the Consular Office: Michael Skopelitis, Third Secretary of Embassy

Head: Dionysios Protopapas
Head of Economic and Commercial Affairs

Head: Athanasia Papatriantafyllou, First Counselor for Public Diplomacy 

Permanent Representative : Aglaia Balta, Minister Plenipotentiary First Class

Consul General : Grigorios Tassiopoulos, First Counsellor of Embassy

Head : Sofia Zachari, Second Secretary for Economic and Commercial Affairs

Consul General : Symeon Tegos, First Counsellor of Embassy

Consul General : Christina Valassopoulou, First Counsellor of Embassy