US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to arrive in Athens on Tuesday, placing defense cooperation at the center of a visit that Greek officials view as a reaffirmation of the strategic relationship between Greece and the United States.

Rubio’s trip comes during what Athens describes as a difficult period in Greek-Turkish relations, giving the visit added geopolitical significance. Greek concerns include the planned resumption of seabed surveys linked to the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, the possibility of legislation related to Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, and tensions arising from Greece’s relationship with Israel.

For Athens, the broader regional context is especially important as US President Donald Trump maintains close relations with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Greek officials also view a planned visit by US Vice President JD Vance to Greece in 2027 as a sign of continued American interest.

Rubio’s visit follows reports in The Wall Street Journal concerning US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. The trip was finalized after those publications, and Greek officials interpret it as also signaling support for the ambassador. Greece is the only stop on Rubio’s European tour where he is expected to stay for two nights.

Behind the scenes, Athens and Washington have been engaged in detailed discussions over possible defense agreements and military equipment. Greece is seeking access to surplus defense material through the Pentagon’s Excess Defense Articles program and has expressed interest in Stryker wheeled armored personnel carriers.

The most significant negotiations concern the weapons package for Greece’s future F-35 fighter aircraft. Greece wants approval for AIM-9X Block II and AIM-120D AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, as well as other weapons already certified for the aircraft. Athens has also requested systems previously not released by the United States, including the AGM-158 JASSM-ER missile.

Rubio’s main engagements are expected Wednesday during the sixth round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue. He is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Agreements expected to be signed include cooperation between the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard.

Source: Ekathimerini.com