The United States and Greece launched a new counterterrorism information exchange program during an official visit to Athens. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced this news at a joint press conference with Georgios Grapetrideas, his Greek counterpart.
Threats from Immigration and Terrorism
Rubio stated at the conference that Greece is particularly exposed to threats from mass immigration, human trafficking, and various forms of terrorism. He emphasized, "We do not want the birthplace of the West to be affected by misguided decisions, inaction, and failure to address challenges." The U.S. Secretary of State described Greece as a "strong ally and NATO model" and a "source of stability in an unstable world."
Maritime Cooperation and Rubio's Speech
Grapetrideas also stated that Greece is ready to cooperate with the United States and provide maritime assistance in the Strait of Hormuz, provided that there is a credible peace process in place. Later in the day, Rubio is set to speak from the Pnyx Hill below the Acropolis, one of the most significant sites of Athenian democracy. Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, announced that Rubio will call for the "revival of the Western spirit" in this speech.
Rubio will reference the shared heritage of Americans and Europeans that extends "from Athens and Rome to Christianity and the founding of the United States" and will warn that Western civilization has forgotten some of its "essential qualities."
The U.S. Secretary of State also expressed support for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece. This support came amid concerns raised by American senators and Greek opposition parties regarding reports of her threatening to use U.S. influence to overthrow the Greek government. In response to a question about Guilfoyle's behavior, Rubio said, "Suffice it to say, our embassy here is doing an outstanding job. Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador here."
