The visit is linked to the sixth round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, but the range of issues on the table goes well beyond its framework. US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle was also present at the welcome.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Athens on the evening of Tuesday (6/10). He will meet his Greek counterpart, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, as well as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Gerapetritis welcomed him at the airport.

Formally, the visit is tied to the sixth round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, but the breadth of topics to be discussed goes far beyond that framework. Energy, defence, regional security, connectivity, investment and technology, along with an assessment of geopolitical developments, make up an agenda that reflects the depth of the relationship between Athens and Washington.

Rubio’s arrival in the Greek capital, the only stop on his tour of the wider region, also signals the finalisation of Athens’ procurement of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets.

The acquisition of 20 Greek F-35A Lightning IIs, with an option for a further 20, is expected to significantly strengthen Greek air superiority over the Aegean as a strategic-grade weapon, so all eyes are now on the finalisation of the deal.

For the Greek side, the aim is for a reaffirmation of the exceptionally high level of bilateral relations to pave the way for further strengthening of Greece’s defence infrastructure, particularly at a time of intense geopolitical realignment.

The programme of the visit

On Wednesday, Rubio will inaugurate the new wing of the US Embassy building and then deliver a speech at the Pnyx. In the afternoon he will meet Mitsotakis, who will have returned from Croatia.

The joint statements by the two foreign ministers will take place at 10:30, after their meeting.

In addition, the proceedings of the sixth round of the Strategic Dialogue will be held from midday, with the relevant ministers and deputy ministers taking part. Three agreements will be signed as part of it: a renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the imposition of import restrictions on categories of archaeological and ethnological material up to the 15th century AD; a Greece-US Letter of Intent on establishing cooperation between the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard; and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the mutual recognition of Seafarers’ Certificates of Competency under the 1978 STCW International Convention, aimed at facilitating employment and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of maritime education.

The visit will conclude with a dinner in his honour, attended by the prime minister and the foreign minister.