The visit of US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to Greece, in his capacity as chair of the influential White House National Energy Dominance Council, underscores the priority Washington places on deepening energy cooperation with Athens, council officials said. 

“We see our partnership with Greece, particularly in the LNG sector, as a key partnership globally,” a senior council representative told Kathimerini.

Burgum is the first cabinet-level official to travel to Greece this presidential term, a decision officials say reflects President Donald Trump’s emphasis on energy as a pillar of US foreign and security policy. The Energy Dominance Council, created at the start of Trump’s second term, has assumed the central role in US energy policy-making, replacing much of the State Department’s leadership on energy issues.

Talks in Athens will center on two areas: US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and shipbuilding cooperation.

The US aims to expand LNG shipments under a $750 billion European Union trade agreement, with a significant share allocated to US LNG. “The primary goal is to gain an overview of how those exports are functioning now, how they can be expanded, and how we can work over the president’s term to meet the goals of the EU trade deal,” the official said. The delegation will assess Greece’s current import capacity and its plans for expansion while emphasizing US production increases.

Shipbuilding is the second focus of Burgum’s trip. The delegation will study Greece’s maritime expertise and seek partnerships to strengthen US shipbuilding capacity. Officials will review Greek operations and explore collaborations to integrate Greece’s capabilities into the US maritime industry.

Analysts in Washington say the effort reflects a wider strategy to counter China’s growing influence at sea. Greece, which manages the world’s largest commercial fleet and sits at a critical Eastern Mediterranean trade crossroads, is seen as an essential partner in boosting US supply chain resilience and global influence.

Burgum’s visit reflects the administration’s energy policy shift which links the production and management of energy not only to economic development, but also to national security, geopolitical power and the strategic autonomy of the US.

Source: Ekathimerini.com