In a move laden with symbolism, the meeting between Greece’s Foreign Minister and his US counterpart in Washington has been upgraded, as it will now take place in the White House instead of the State Department.
According to sources who spoke to Ta Nea, the one-on-one talks between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will now take place at the White House, specifically in the office of the National Security Council.
The change of venue is no minor detail. Rubio is currently serving in a dual capacity —both as Secretary of State and as White House National Security Adviser — a role that elevates the political weight of the meeting. Greek officials describe the shift as a “highly symbolic gesture” reflecting the depth of the bilateral relationship.
A Meeting at a Critical Moment
The talks come at a volatile time for the wider Middle East, with the constantly evolving situation with Iran dominating US foreign policy deliberations and stoking fears of a broader regional escalation.
Against this backdrop, Athens has increasingly positioned itself as a reliable interlocutor among key regional players: from Israel and Arab states to European partners and Washington. Greece’s geographic location at the crossroads of Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, combined with its NATO membership, has amplified its strategic relevance.
While bilateral issues will be firmly on the table, coordination on broader regional and international security objectives is expected to play a central role.
Preparing the Greece–US Strategic Dialogue
At the heart of the discussions lies preparations for the upcoming Greece–US Strategic Dialogue, the sixth round of high-level institutional talks between the two countries. The session is expected to take place in Athens by the end of May, when Rubio is planning a visit to the Greek capital.
Despite some public speculation that the Washington meeting came together at the last minute, diplomatic contacts between the two sides have been ongoing.
Gerapetritis and Rubio had already spoken by phone on January 30, with the upcoming Strategic Dialogue high on the agenda. The issue was revisited two weeks ago, ahead of Greece’s participation in the so-called “Trump Peace Council” on February 11 — an international consultative forum — as Athens finalized the terms of its involvement, ultimately taking part as an observer.
Gaza, Energy and the Euro-Atlantic Axis
Beyond bilateral relations, the agenda is expected to include developments in the Middle East and more specifically Greece’s planned involvement in Gaza both through reconstruction efforts and participation in a proposed International Stabilization Force. Euro-Atlantic relations and transatlantic coordination are also going to be part of the discussions.
Energy cooperation is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Greece’s bid to establish itself as a key energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean — particularly through expanded natural gas infrastructure, LNG terminals and regional interconnectors — has further enhanced its strategic role in Europe’s efforts to diversify energy supplies.
Significantly, Greece’s Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou is also in Washington for meetings on energy cooperation, alongside US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle.
During his stay in Washington, Gerapetritis is also scheduled to hold meetings with senior US officials and deliver a speech at the Atlantic Council, one of the capital’s most influential think tanks on foreign policy and security.
Source: tanea.gr
