In Washington, however, a Greek surname does not necessarily say much about the influence a lawmaker can wield. Nor, as events this summer showed, does it reveal how far a member of Congress is prepared to go when confronting the White House.

The developments surrounding the proposed sale of US-made engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter jets and the possibility of Turkey returning to the F-35 program exposed weaknesses in the much-discussed Hellenic Caucus, Congress’ bipartisan group focused on Greek issues. The two issues proved a critical stress test of whether bipartisan cooperation could survive when Republicans were asked to pressure their own president.

A Signature or a Statement?

Democratic Rep. Dina Titus introduced a resolution seeking to block the engine sale. Republicans Gus Bilirakis and Nicole Malliotakis did not cosponsor it. Instead, they issued a joint statement with their newer colleagues from Florida, Jimmy Patronis and Mike Haridopolos, expressing serious concerns. In an unusual public confrontation between two vice chairs of the same caucus, Titus publicly called on Malliotakis to support her initiative.

This does not mean the Republicans remained inactive. It does mean, however, that the two sides chose different approaches and failed to present a united front at the most sensitive moment. Democrats could openly confront Donald Trump. For Republicans, the political cost of such a move would have been greater.

Bilirakis’ contribution to the Hellenic Caucus, for example, spans multiple terms and should not be dismissed because of a difficult political moment. This year, however, he also had to contend with changes to Florida’s congressional map. Republicans redrew district boundaries to improve their overall electoral position. In Bilirakis’ district, however, Trump’s margin based on the 2024 presidential vote narrowed from about 35 percentage points to 15. The seat still favors Republicans, but Bilirakis’ reelection is no longer quite as straightforward as it once was.

Malliotakis, meanwhile, operates from a different position of political security. She represents the conservative stronghold of Staten Island and has the political experience to take a public stand while remaining mindful of her relationship with Trump. Patronis and Haridopolos, who entered Congress recently with his support, are still at the beginning of their legislative careers. In Athens, access to the president is often seen as an advantage. With this particular president, however, access may entail greater demands for loyalty than opportunities to exert influence.

Neither a Handshake nor a Glance

Yet, with the midterm elections approaching, relations between Malliotakis and Titus, the other vice chair of the Hellenic Caucus, appear to remain frosty. At an American Hellenic Institute event about a month ago, the two were in the same room but, according to people present, exchanged neither a handshake nor a glance.

The more substantive question concerns how the caucus itself operates. Its four leaders — two co-chairs and two vice chairs — have managed to cooperate on legislative initiatives, including a bill to extend US military training assistance to Greece that advanced through the House Foreign Affairs Committee in May.

Agreement on a bill, however, is one thing; coordination during a crisis is another. In congressional groups such as the Congressional Progressive Caucus, leaders meet to develop a common strategy. The Greek caucus’ recent difficulties have shown how hard it can be to coordinate when initiatives are pursued separately and personal relationships do little to facilitate cooperation.

The midterm elections will bring inevitable changes in personnel. Democratic co-chair Chris Pappas is running in New Hampshire for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, facing Republican John Sununu. If elected, Pappas would become the first Greek-American senator since Olympia Snowe left the Senate in 2013.

Win or lose, Pappas will not return to the House of Representatives. The Hellenic Caucus will therefore need to find a new Democratic co-chair, which will not be a simple task. The ideal candidate would be a lawmaker with knowledge of the eastern Mediterranean, political weight and a willingness to invest time and influence in Greek issues.

Titus already serves as a vice chair, while New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander, who was first elected in 2024 and is also of Greek descent, represents another potential figure. So far, however, she has shown little inclination to become actively involved in Greek issues.

The next congressional term will show whether that changes and whether Patronis and Haridopolos take on greater responsibilities. The new balance of power in Congress will also matter. The composition and leadership of committees dealing with foreign policy, sanctions and defense can affect the ability of Greece’s supporters to intervene, regardless of their ancestry.

The persistent focus on identifying Greek surnames also highlights a paradox: some of the most active supporters of Greek positions have no Greek ancestry at all.

Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider is a case in point. As co-chair of the US Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance Caucus, he has promoted the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act, which seeks to give Greece and the eastern Mediterranean a strategic role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

New York Rep. Dan Goldman also cosponsored legislation promoting cooperation among Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States. In June, however, he lost the Democratic primary, meaning Greece will lose another supporter in the House because of an intraparty dispute unrelated to Greek issues.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a vocal critic of the Israeli government, has repeatedly supported Greece’s and Cyprus’ positions. Schneider and Van Hollen strongly disagree over Israel, but that has not prevented either from supporting Greece.

On Tuesday, we will once again count how many Greek Americans have been elected. It will be even more important to watch who is there the next time Athens needs allies in Washington.