The United States considers Greece a key strategic partner in Southeast Europe and is looking to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of energy and regional security, said U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum during his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
The visit comes just one day after American energy giant Chevron announced its bid in the tender for offshore seismic exploration rights south of Crete — a move hailed by the Greek side as a step toward confirming Greece’s sovereign rights in the region.
“This is an important moment to reaffirm our strategic cooperation and to focus on energy security,” said Prime Minister Mitsotakis, emphasizing Greece’s evolving role as a regional energy hub.
“We are happy to discuss Greece’s growing role as a pillar of energy security in the wider region. We are a country that exports natural gas, serves as a transit hub, and also exports electricity. We look forward to deepening our cooperation for the benefit of our peoples,” Mitsotakis added.
The Greek PM also referred to the emotionally charged significance of September 11th, expressing solidarity with the American people and condemning the recent politically motivated murder of Charlie Kirk, stating:
“Political violence has no place in our democracies, and freedom of speech must be protected at all costs.”
U.S. Message: Energy for Allies, Not Rivals
Doug Burgum, who also chairs the Energy Sovereignty Council under the Trump administration, emphasized the U.S. goal of achieving energy independence while supporting allies.
“One of our main objectives is to sell energy to our friends and allies so they don’t have to buy from our adversaries,” Burgum said.
He highlighted Greece’s strategic importance due to:
- Its maritime heritage and access to key sea routes,
- Its role in the North-South Energy Corridor,
- Its connection to pipeline systems serving Southeast Europe.
“There are many opportunities for Greek companies and the Greek state to contribute to energy security for Eastern and Southeastern Europe. We’re excited about what lies ahead,” he concluded.
Source: pagenews.gr