Greece’s shipping minister, Vasilis Kikilias, visited Washington this week to press for closer cooperation in shipbuilding and maritime trade, signaling that the United States and Greece are preparing to expand a strategic partnership that already spans defense, energy and technology.

The Trump administration has made expanding liquefied natural gas exports and reviving American shipyards central to its economic agenda, in part to counter China’s growing influence. U.S. officials increasingly see Greece — home to the world’s largest privately owned shipping fleet — as a natural partner in that effort, raising the prospect of maritime affairs becoming a new pillar of the relationship.

Mr. Kikilias met first with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, inviting him to Greece and pledging to advance talks on shipbuilding. He later sat down with Thomas Lersten, the State Department’s acting under secretary for economic growth and energy, to discuss opportunities for sharing expertise and expanding joint ventures in maritime trade.

Talks also included the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which has invested in Elefsina Shipyards near Athens. Kikilias, joined by Panos Xenokostas, the shipyard’s chief executive, described the project as proof of Greece’s reliability as a destination for American capital. The investment is widely viewed as a step toward bolstering both countries’ roles in shipbuilding at a time of heightened geopolitical competition.

At the White House, the minister conferred with Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy commander who now directs shipbuilding policy at the Office of Management and Budget. Their discussions, officials said, focused on future cooperation in both shipbuilding and commercial shipping.

On Capitol Hill, Mr. Kikilias met with Representative Gus Bilirakis, Republican of Florida, thanking him for his longstanding advocacy of Greek interests, and with Jimmy Patronis, another Greek American lawmaker. Both lawmakers have been consistent supporters of closer U.S.-Greek ties.

The visit concluded with a meeting with Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was confirmed by the Senate this month as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Mr. Kikilias congratulated her on her appointment and said he looked forward to expanding cooperation in what he called “a strategic field where both countries have much to contribute.”