WASHINGTON, DC- Petros Kasfikis /ANA-MPA
The importance Washington attaches to its alliance with Athens was underscored by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described Greece as a “very important ally” of the United States, ahead of his visit to Athens.
Responding to a question about the stops on his European tour in Greece and Portugal, the US secretary of state placed particular emphasis on the military and economic dimensions of Greek-US relations.
“Greece, of course, is a very important ally of the United States. It’s a country where we have not only a military presence, but also strong economic ties. So, it’s an opportunity to go there and meet with them,” Rubio said. He made the remarks ahead of his visit to Athens, where he will lead the American delegation at the 6th US–Greece Strategic Dialogue.
According to the State Department, the talks will focus on further deepening cooperation on key priorities of the US administration, including defence cooperation, as well as regional and energy security.
Rubio also referred to Portugal, describing it as a strong ally of the United States and noting that his visit would provide an opportunity for discussions with the Portuguese side.
