The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) has announced the next session of its College Student Foreign Policy Trip, scheduled to take place from June 21 to July 9, 2026. The three-week program is designed to give American college students an in-depth understanding of key foreign policy issues affecting U.S. interests in Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The initiative combines academic insight with real-world exposure, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, diplomats, military officials and experts. Through stakeholder meetings, briefings and site visits, students observe diplomacy in action and gain first-hand knowledge of regional geopolitical dynamics.

The program begins in Washington, D.C., where students attend high-level meetings with U.S. government officials and leading institutions. Participants meet representatives from the Department of State, Members of Congress, think tanks and academic experts, gaining a clearer understanding of how U.S. foreign policy is shaped and implemented.

The second phase takes place in the Republic of Cyprus. There, students meet foreign government leaders, business representatives and international organizations, while also learning about the U.S. military presence in Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. Engagements include briefings on joint training initiatives and meetings with the National Guard of Cyprus.

The final stage of the trip unfolds in Greece. Participants continue discussions with political and institutional leaders and further explore U.S.–Greece strategic cooperation, including military collaboration at Souda Bay. The program concludes in Athens with a farewell event, where students reflect on their experiences and discuss future academic and professional goals.

According to AHIF, past participants have leveraged the experience to secure internships and employment opportunities, pursue academic research, and launch careers in foreign policy, international law and global business.

“Since its inception, the AHIF Student Foreign Policy Trip has provided students with a better understanding of U.S. issues in Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the importance of U.S.–Greece and U.S.–Republic of Cyprus relations,” the foundation notes. “The program offers a hands-on experience that allows college students to see how foreign policy is crafted and executed, understand the issues affecting the Greek-American and Cypriot-American communities, and prepare to become responsible leaders ready to carry this work forward.”

The 2026 session continues AHIF’s mission to strengthen educational engagement and deepen awareness of the strategic ties linking the United States with Greece and Cyprus.