A few years after the gradual adjustment of U.S. presence in the Eastern Mediterranean energy networks, the so-called “Trump Plan” is making a strong comeback, putting Greece at the center of regional energy and political dynamics. Originally developed during Donald Trump’s previous presidency, the plan positions Greece, Cyprus, and Israel as key pillars of U.S. strategy in the region.
The plan serves multiple objectives:
- Strengthening Europe’s energy security by reducing dependence on Russian energy.
- Advancing trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, with U.S. support through the “3+1” framework.
- Reshaping the regional energy map, limiting Turkey’s influence through alternative LNG pipelines and infrastructure.
The appointment of Kimberly Gilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Athens is highly symbolic. Part of Trump’s inner circle, she knows the Republican power network inside out and is tasked with overseeing the reactivation of U.S. strategy in the Mediterranean. Her arrival coincides with the P-TEC Summit (November 6-7) at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, considered a central hub for shaping the new European energy landscape.
According to diplomatic sources, the plan revolves around three main pillars:
- Reaffirming the Greece-Cyprus-Israel alliance for political and energy stability.
- Enhancing energy infrastructure, with new LNG storage, regasification, and transfer facilities, positioning Greece as a regional energy regulator.
- Limiting Turkey’s geo-economic presence by creating energy corridors that bypass Ankara.
Greece is emerging as a strategic energy hub of Southeast Europe, with the ports of Revythousa and Alexandroupolis gaining strategic importance, while new infrastructure is planned for Southern Peloponnese. Behind the scenes, U.S. and European funds worth hundreds of millions of euros are involved, with agreements expected to be formalized gradually via parallel memorandums of cooperation.
Turkey is deeply concerned. Turkish media speak of a “U.S.-Israel exclusion plan”, while Erdogan’s rhetoric frames the move as marginalization and energy encirclement. The proposed Israel-Cyprus-Greece pipeline, part of the “3+1” framework, is seen as a strategic setback for Turkey’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Diplomacy is being carefully managed: U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrett, is working to maintain a balance, keeping “bridges” open with Ankara and avoiding public confrontations. Meanwhile, Washington supports Greece and Cyprus in infrastructure and security, combining pressure with diplomatic measures.
The Cyprus issue is also returning to the energy agenda. The recent meeting between President Nicos Christodoulides and Donald Trump in Sharm El Sheikh indicates renewed U.S. engagement, potentially facilitating the gradual withdrawal of Turkish troops in exchange for Ankara’s participation in energy deals. In Libya, U.S. attention follows Massad Bulos, who is reportedly coordinating a new quadrilateral conference with Tripoli and Cairo to revise the Turkey-Libya memorandum.
The new Eastern Mediterranean chessboard is taking shape:
- Greece emerges as a permanent energy hub, controlling LNG and electricity flows for the next decade.
- Turkey sees its regional influence curtailed, intensifying its sense of isolation.
- Washington invests in regional stability, combining energy, security, and diplomatic pressure to restore the Eastern Mediterranean as central to U.S. strategic interests.
The “Trump Plan” is no longer just an energy tool; it is a political-strategic instrument, with Athens positioned as a key player in the next era of Mediterranean geopolitics.
Source: pagenews.gr