Μake us preferred on Google Energy security is expected to feature prominently when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Athens Tuesday evening, with the sixth Greece-US Strategic Dialogue set to address regional energy projects, US liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to southeastern Europe and the western Balkans, and wider efforts to strengthen the region’s energy resilience.
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Rubio’s visit comes as Washington places increasing emphasis on Greece’s role as an energy hub and on projects designed to diversify European energy supplies. Among the issues expected to feature in discussions are the Vertical Energy Corridor, hydrocarbon exploration projects in the region and the continuation of the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity interconnection, known as the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI).
The discussions are also expected to take place against the backdrop of spiked language emanating from Ankara, as well as competing approaches to energy resources and maritime jurisdictions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Athens is expected to again raise the Turkish activity and rhetoric, while Washington’s growing interest in regional energy projects gives Greece an additional strategic role in US efforts to strengthen energy security and diversify supplies across southeastern Europe.
Rubio is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Wednesday for one-on-one talks, followed by expanded discussions between the two delegations. A meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also expected and could take the form of a dinner.
The sixth Greece-US Strategic Dialogue is expected to cover four broad areas: defense and security; international and regional developments; people-to-people diplomacy; and energy, shipping, technology, trade and investment.
Defense cooperation will also be high on the agenda as Greece joined the US National Guard’s State Partnership Program in April 2026, establishing a strategic partnership with the Florida National Guard. The two sides could sign agreements related to the new framework during Rubio’s visit.
Against this backdrop, Rubio also issued a strong message of support for US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle shortly before his visit. Responding to press reports and speculation regarding her activities, particularly in connection with energy agreements, Rubio said Guilfoyle had proved highly effective in advancing US President Donald Trump’s agenda in Greece and across Europe.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. Credit: US Embassy Handout
He also praised her contribution to advancing US energy interests in Greece and southeastern Europe through regional initiatives such as the Vertical Energy Corridor, which he described as enjoying bipartisan support. Rubio said both he and Trump particularly valued what he called Guilfoyle’s pivotal work and leadership in the region.
Guilfoyle, for her part, welcomed the State Department’s announcement of Rubio’s Oct. 5-8 tour of Reykjavík, Athens and Lisbon, saying that under his leadership relations between Greece and the United States were being elevated to new heights.
