The United States is targeting the Chinese-owned port of Piraeus, among other container trade terminals worldwide, in an attempt to limit Chinese influence on the maritime supply chain, according to Reuters News Agency, citing three sources.
The report states that Donald Trump’s government aims to weaken China’s global terminal network and bring most of its strategic trade ports under Western control.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the United States plans to review Chinese interests in the Greek port of Piraeus.
In the piece, Reuters details the significance of the Piraeus port, calling it a central hub on the trade route connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia. COSCO, one of China’s largest port and shipping conglomerates, holds a 67% stake in the Piraeus Port Authority,” Reuters reports, emphasizing that a source close to Chinese investors involved in Greek shipping said that “some Chinese investors are concerned that Washington may want to target COSCO’s operations in Greece.”
Reuters says Greek officials had previously told the news agency that they were unaware of any plans to change control of the Port of Piraeus.
The same sources note that the U.S. operation is part of the most ambitious effort to expand U.S. maritime influence since the 1970s and is designed to address growing fears in Washington of being at a disadvantage against China in the event of a conflict.
They emphasize that Trump administration officials believe the U.S. commercial shipping fleet is not adequately equipped to provide logistical support to the military in wartime and that Washington’s reliance on foreign ships and ports is excessive.
