Athens is reportedly eyeing a renewal of the Greece-US Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) within the year and specifically during the sixth round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, in tandem with a possible visit by US President Donald Trump to Athens — a development that would coincide with the high-profile upgrading of strategic and defense ties France following President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the east Mediterranean country late last week.

With the chapter of enhanced Greek-French cooperation, as described as marking a new phase in bilateral relations, now concluded, the Greek government is preparing for upcoming talks with Washington at both foreign minister and leadership level.

According to media reports out of Athens on Monday, references cite a possible visit by Trump to Greece, possibly in the coming months, linked with a NATO summit set to take place in Turkey on July 7–8.

The prospect has been publicly mentioned by both Trump and US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also referred to such a prospect in a recent interview, emphasizing that bilateral relations between Athens and Washington have “never been closer.”

In fact, Mitsotakis said he could guarantee Trump would “have a good time.” Trump, in turn, reportedly described Greece as a “fantastic country.”

Strategic Dialogue and agenda

Preparatory groundwork for such an upcoming strategic dialogue was laid during a recent visit by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis to the White House, where he met his US counterpart, Marco Rubio. Rubio is expected to travel to Athens for talks.

Key items on the agenda include energy, shipping, investment, defense and security, with Greece aiming to reinforce its role as a strategic US partner and a pillar of stability in the region.

While the strategic dialogue had initially been scheduled for early in the year, delays linked to military developments in the Middle East shifted the timeline. It is now expected, barring unforeseen changes, to take place in June.

Trump visit scenarios

As for a potential Trump visit to Greece, no official confirmation has been given, though neither has the possibility been ruled out. Greek officials see what they describe as an “open horizon.”

Current assessments suggest it is unlikely that Trump would visit Greece as a standalone destination. A more probable scenario would involve a brief stop in Athens, possibly linked to the NATO summit in Turkey or other regional developments connected to the Middle East.

However, sources in Washington caution that the president’s schedule remains fluid, particularly following the recent violent incident in Washington D.C., when an armed suspect stormed the hotel where the White House correspondents’ gala was taking place, and where the US president was in attendance and waiting to speak.

File photo: A view to the southwest from atop the Acropolis in central Athens, with the Philopappos Monument at the summit of the Muses Hill and the Herodus Atticus Odeon in the foreground, lower right. The Pnyx Hill lies to the right, along the hill’s slope, from monument.

Considerations for the Acropolis as a backdrop

Reports have also resurfaced about a potential address by Trump with the Acropolis as a backdrop. According to sources familiar with the process, any such request would need approval from the culture ministry-affiliated Central Archaeological Council, as statements by political figures are generally not permitted at Greece’s archaeological sites.

An exception exists for the Pnyx Hill opposite the Acropolis’ southern slope, which is associated with democratic assemblies in ancient Athens. Should approval be considered for a location near the Parthenon, strict conditions would be imposed, including limits on duration, attendance, security arrangements and media coverage.

Maintaining security for a US president/candidate who has already faced serious assassination attempts would be a daunting task in such an amphitheatrical open space.