US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has characterized Greece as a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s strategy on energy, investment, and Artificial Intelligence.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency during her first official visit to Thessaloniki, she highlighted the country’s growing geostrategic and technological significance and reaffirmed the “steady, reliable” nature of the US-Greece alliance.
Guilfoyle underscored that, for President Trump, “having Greece as an energy hub in the region was very important,” framing energy as the foundation for both geopolitical stability and technological dominance.
She said that “whoever controls energy will also control AI,” noting that northern Greece is emerging as a promising technology center. The ambassador pointed to a “strong willingness to invest” among US companies, emphasizing that Greece’s current climate offers “huge opportunities,” provided that predictability and stability remain intact.
During her Thessaloniki trip, she met with business and institutional leaders – including representatives from the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and companies in pharmaceuticals, technology, and manufacturing – to discuss US interest in the region. She stressed that American firms “want to know where the country is going and how friendly it is to new investments,” adding that she is actively working to facilitate this momentum.
Guilfoyle also emphasized the importance of Greek energy independence for regional security. “Energy independence equals national security – and we see this clearly in the case of Ukraine and Russia,” she said, stating that dependency has played a major role in the region’s destabilization. She described Greece’s role as an energy hub as a force that “truly provides regional stability, which affects the world and the neighbors.”
The ambassador highlighted her participation in recent discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on supplying American LNG to Ukraine. She said the goal is to help the country endure the winter and strengthen its position at future peace negotiations.
In a broader appeal for diplomacy, she called for an end to conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere, saying, “We can never let [war] be normal. It must stop,” and praised President Trump’s efforts in that direction.
Looking ahead, she pointed to increased American interest in energy, technological, and geostrategic projects across the region. She announced that a new US-Greece-Cyprus-Israel meeting focused exclusively on energy will take place in Washington in the first quarter of 2026. She also highlighted the newly signed US-Greece joint declaration on strengthening economic cooperation, particularly in AI, an area where she believes Greece can become a leading player.
Guilfoyle praised the dynamism of Thessaloniki and northern Greece, describing the region as a growing technology hub with strong potential for the future. This, she said, aligns with broader American interest in the Eastern Mediterranean and in southern and central Europe, where Greece plays an increasingly prominent role.
She devoted significant attention to the bilateral relationship, calling it “historically stable and reliable.” Greece, she noted, has “repeatedly been a steadfast ally of the United States…a strong and proud country, a good neighbor and a good ally.” She expressed optimism about the direction of the partnership and the opportunities it presents for both nations.
She described her appointment as the first female US ambassador to Greece as part of “a new chapter” in her life, crediting self-confidence, her upbringing, and the support of her son for enabling her to achieve the “American dream.” [AMNA]