The Eastern Mediterranean has, for many years, proven to be a highly volatile region, with states, it seems, almost perpetually vying for the upper hand, often leading to rising tensions and even direct conflicts. It therefore stands to reason that navigating these precarious geostrategic waters is not an easy feat, a fact that the newly appointed ambassador of the United States to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is very much aware of. She explains some of her goals and priorities to TΟ ΒΗΜΑ International Edition in the 12th episode of our “The Ambassadors Series.”
Having assumed the post as her country’s top emissary in Greece a little over two months ago, the elegant diplomat invited tovima.com into her residence in Athens, where she highlighted some of the key points of her demanding mission.
Ms. Guilfoyle says that one of the main priorities on her agenda is to create the necessary conditions for energy independence through assisting in the construction of the vertical energy corridor leading to peace and stability in the wider region.
She highlighted the significance of her involvement in the Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) Conference in Athens last November. “It [the vertical corridor] affects history, it affects people, it saves lives,” she stressed, adding that it provides Ukraine the chance to maintain its sovereignty. “Representing the United States as the ambassador is so important because I have been able to have a regional influence to work with other countries as it relates to the vertical corridor”, she emphasizes.
The Ambassador values highly personal relations and immersing oneself in the local culture. While having visited Greece many times in the past, as she says, Ms. Guilfoyle admitted she enjoyed the warm welcome and embrace the Greek people reserved for her once she assumed her post in Athens. “What really surprised me was the warm welcome, the embrace that I received from the people of Greece. It was heartwarming”.
On the issue of the complexity of the Greek-Turkish relations, an emerging defensive alliance between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, and how the U.S. can strike a balance between maintaining calm in the region, the ambassador is clear. “We want to have open dialogue and communication”. She goes on to mention her personal relationship with the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas J. Barrack, saying that both Greece and Turkey can benefit by having the US as a close ally, as it facilitates open dialogue and ensures stability in the region.
Among other topics, the top U.S. diplomat tells us about her close friendship with popular Greek singer Konstantinos Argyros, her love of the Orthodox Church, and the value Greeks place on family, tradition, and faith.
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