By Eleni Vasiliki Bampaliouta
The meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, held at the prime minister’s ancestral home in Chania, Crete, lasted an hour and twenty minutes. Against the backdrop of kaltsoynia (Greek traditional sweets) and raki (Greek traditional drink), Mitsotakis warmly welcomed Blinken, showcasing the nearby American base in Souda Bay from his garden.
The meeting unfolded in a friendly atmosphere, with Blinken underscoring that Greek-American relations are currently at their zenith, attributing it to Mitsotakis’s significant contribution. The Greek Prime Minister, in turn, conveyed the commitment of Athens and Washington to continue collaborating towards restoring peace and security in the Middle East region. In a brief exchange before television cameras, Mitsotakis expressed his pleasure in hosting Blinken, emphasizing the symbolic depth of the two countries’ relations, currently at an all-time high.
Mitsotakis stated, “It is with pleasure that I welcome you here in Souda Bay in a place that symbolizes the depth of our strategic partnership. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to a place like this at a time when our bilateral relations are better than ever. These are difficult and challenging times for the region and it is especially important for us to stand side by side and work not only for our strategic cooperation as allies but also to ensure that peace and stability return to our troubled region. Again, it is my pleasure to welcome you here.”
Expressing gratitude, Blinken thanked the Greek Prime Minister for the warm welcome, acknowledging the honor of being received at his home in Chania and highlighting the significance of hospitality. He remarked, “It is a great honor for me professionally and personally and it means a lot to me to be welcomed into your home and thank you very much. I have many Greek friends in the US who know what hospitality means. I completely agree with you about the relationship between the two countries. I have been doing this job for 30 years and I have told the US ambassador in Athens Mr. Giorgos Tsounis and I do not remember another time when the friendship and relations between Greece and the US were stronger and this is due to the good relationship between the two peoples and also to the leadership that you have demonstrated. We are grateful for that.
We are facing the most difficult challenges but we are united whether it is the war in the middle east or in Gaza, it gives us strength for the future. That’s why I’m here and I want to hear your point of view, and your cooperation and alliance means a lot to the United States. I completely agree with what you said about bilateral relations.”
He added, “We’re facing some of the toughest challenges we’ve ever faced, but the fact that we’re united, whether it’s Ukraine, or security and stability in the Middle East, or the war in Gaza, that gives us enormous strength and perspective for the future,” closing the brief conversation in front of the cameras by emphasizing the importance of their cooperation and alliance for the United States.
According to government sources, Greece, as a consistent and reliable partner and ally, will receive what has been agreed upon following the meeting. This is believed to refer to the approval of the sale of American F-35s to Greece. The meeting provided a comprehensive overview of Greek-American relations, confirming the “excellent” level, with expectations of further positive steps in defense cooperation in the coming period.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is currently in Washington, with discussions centering around the F-35 and the Middle East situation. On February 9, the Greek and US foreign ministers, Giorgos Gerapetritis and Anthony Blinken, are scheduled to meet in Washington. Greece is seeking an increased role in the ongoing processes in the Middle East, and the talks include Athens’ commitment to participating in the “Guardian of Prosperity” operation in the Red Sea.
Additionally, Greece aims to expand channels with critical actors in the region, as demonstrated by Mr. Gerapetritis’s recent visits to Jordan and Egypt, where he engaged in discussions with counterparts and leaders on regional issues, including the situation in Libya.
