“Greece is an essential ally for the United States, and together we are ready to face any challenges as strategic partners,” highlighted U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle at an event titled “Nisyros Dialogues – Bridging the East Med.”

She noted that she works daily to develop new opportunities to expand energy ties, enhance coordination in defense, and increase reliable investments. “Greece is an example of President Trump’s vision of peace through strength, as demonstrated by its investments in the military and commitment to shared security,” she emphasized.

“A stable Eastern Mediterranean requires predictability at sea, clear rules, and trust among all the countries in the region,” Guilfoyle stressed.

She also underscored that the United States is determined to further strengthen its cooperation with Athens and to resist Chinese interests in the region “very aggressively.” “I like being on the front lines,” she remarked. “I am here as the U.S. Ambassador. Every day when I wake up, I look for ways to advance American interests, money, infrastructure, to work with Greece and our other regional allies, and that means resisting Chinese interests very aggressively.”

“I will do this every day and I will do it without apologizing, because this is my job and it is best for national security. China is smart. They saw the opportunity. They came to Greece. But to be fair, it was at a time when the economy wasn’t as strong as it is today, and they were the only bidder. That is the reality,” she said.

She emphasized that Europe should take note of this. “When foreign countries try to invest money in your country, you examine it, evaluate it, it must go through thorough scrutiny. Now they do this. Back then, there was nothing like that. Therefore, there was no temporary measure to prevent this from happening. But what we can do is invest money and infrastructure to build another port that can counterbalance Chinese interests in Piraeus.”

Guilfoyle pointed out that the Eastern Mediterranean is a thriving corridor for trade and transactions, but it is also a region with potential frictions due to maritime border disputes, illegal migration flows, and the constant risk of more serious threats. She noted that partnerships must be mutual and our shared commitments must yield results — this is especially true in the Mediterranean — emphasizing that a stable and resilient Eastern Mediterranean is essential.

“As U.S. Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that the United States and Greece remain the strongest possible allies. Greece’s naval strength, democratic stability, and resilient population make it a vital partner in advancing our shared goals.”

She noted that President Trump has made clear that energy security is national security in the new transatlantic reality, and that U.S. liquefied natural gas, Eastern Mediterranean resources, and European infrastructure are critical to this new development.

“This is not about competing visions. It is about mutually reinforcing pillars of a new, safer energy architecture. With U.S. support, Greece has emerged as a key regional energy hub, expanding LNG import capacity, strengthening relations with its neighbors, and positioning itself as one of the top energy gateways to Europe.”

She added that the results are visible: LNG exports to Europe have reached historic levels, and diversification from Russian natural gas has accelerated. She highlighted that agreements with ExxonMobil and Chevron are the result of strategic coordination.

Greece, she emphasized, serves as the core energy hub of Europe and fuels the entire vertical corridor, transporting LNG from Greece all the way to Odessa. She noted that there is ongoing communication with other countries along the corridor to further strengthen it. “This is just the beginning; as we develop this infrastructure, it will grow. These are long-term agreements, so the benefits will be seen for many years.”

She cited the Elefsina shipyards as a key example of U.S. investment, noting that it has become a thriving shipyard providing high-quality jobs to the local community. “Our foreign policy has entered a new era, an era of action, not words — results.”

Guilfoyle emphasized that Greece has exceeded even the highest expectations of the U.S., having committed to spend 5% of its GDP on defense. She noted her close collaboration with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou. “The U.S. will always stand with its ally, an incredible country and the birthplace of democracy,” she concluded.