Μake us preferred on Google US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Athens on Tuesday evening for the sixth round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, with energy, security, defense, high technology, geopolitical developments and the protection of cultural heritage at the center of his meetings in the Greek capital.
Rubio arrived at Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport at about 9:20 p.m., where he was welcomed by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis. The two men exchanged a warm handshake before departing together.
On Wednesday, Rubio will visit the foreign ministry at 9 a.m. for talks and joint statements with Gerapetritis and the opening of the sixth Strategic Dialogue, followed by the inauguration of renovation works at the US embassy at 11 a.m. He will then take part in the main strategic dialogue session at noon and deliver an address at the historic Pnyx Hill at 6 p.m., before meeting Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion at 7 p.m. and attending an official dinner hosted by the prime minister.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is escorted upon his arrival at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Spata, due east of Athens on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, center, and US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. Rubio is visiting the country to lead the US delegation a, the sixth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue. AMNA/AMNA/Yannis Kolesidis
Security measures
Athens is under heightened security and extensive traffic restrictions for Rubio’s visit. Measures began Tuesday and will continue until early Thursday, with the most extensive restrictions expected Wednesday. Temporary closures and diversions are affecting major central arteries, including Vasilissis Sofias, Vasileos Konstantinou and Vasilissis Amalias avenues, as well as Panepistimiou and Stadiou streets, with motorists urged to avoid central Athens and use public transportation.
The security operation involves thousands of police officers, while drones are being used for surveillance. Police have also imposed a 24-hour ban on public outdoor gatherings and motorized marches across a broad section of central Athens from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday.
Meanwhile, demonstrators opposed to Rubio’s visit marched toward the US embassy on Tuesday evening. The protest coincides with his meetings with Greek officials and his participation in the Strategic Dialogue.
What the Sixth Strategic Dialogue Covers
Rubio will lead the US delegation for the sixth round of the Strategic Dialogue in Athens, with the aim of further deepening the bilateral partnership in areas that include defense cooperation, regional security and energy security.
The dialogue will begin with regional issues, followed by a session on people-to-people ties. The two sides are also expected to sign a Letter of Intent establishing cooperation between the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard.
Greece and the US will renew their memorandum of cooperation on imposing import restrictions on categories of archaeological and ethnological material dating to the 15th century AD and earlier.
The two countries will also sign a memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates of competency under the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The agreement is intended to facilitate employment opportunities for seafarers and strengthen Greek-US cooperation in maritime training.
The working lunch between the two delegations will address global issues, according to the Greek foreign ministry’s program.
Further sessions will focus on security and law enforcement, energy, shipping, technology, trade and investment, and defense.
The talks are expected to conclude at 5 p.m.
The US-Greece Strategic Dialogue was launched in 2018. The fifth round was held in Washington in February 2024.
