The first public statement of the American diplomat after his return to the USA where he assumes the position of Undersecretary of State for energy issues
The former US ambassador to Athens referred to the important role that Greece is called to play in the new energy map that has begun to take shape under the weight of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Jeffrey Payat. The US diplomat made his first public appearance since returning to the United States as part of a congressional hearing to approve his appointment as Undersecretary of State for Energy.
Mr Payat explained that energy diversification was particularly important in order for the State Department’s energy affairs office to succeed in boosting fuel supplies to the world market and preventing Russia’s use of energy as a weapon of war. In fact, at this point he stood by the efforts he made as ambassador to Athens to highlight and strengthen the role of Greece as a top ally of the United States.
We must achieve a future with low carbon emissions
“Energy diversification is vital to this effort. For more than six years in Athens, I am proud to have worked with the Greek government to help this country become a leading ally in diversification of energy sources and (energy) routes in Europe. “It is important that our embassy team also supported Greece in its (effort) to adopt one of the most ambitious energy transition programs in the EU, often in collaboration with American companies that create jobs here at home (in the US).” .
He went on to say that one of his main goals will be to work with US allies and partners to free them from their dependence on malicious agents such as Russia to ensure that the United States and its partners will benefit from the economic opportunities presented by the clean energy revolution. As he explained, we must achieve a future with low carbon emissions that will provide reliable and affordable energy to all sections of society.
“Putin’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has rewritten the world energy map, and the United States has worked with allies and partners to address the serious implications, especially of Europe’s energy security. Among Putin’s many miscalculations at the start of this war was his failure to predict how his actions would make our alliances stronger and accelerate the energy transition. “Together with the EU, the Member States, global allies and partners and the private sector, we are reshaping Europe’s energy supply, increasing efficiency measures that reduce aggregate energy demand and accelerating the development of renewable energy technologies.”
Among Putin’s many miscalculations (…) was his failure to predict how his actions would make our alliances stronger.
In addition, Jeffrey Payat spoke of a pivotal moment for the State Department’s energy affairs office, as he said news headlines reflect the importance of energy issues to the American economy, daily life and national security. . As he explained, “energy issues have been an important issue that I have focused on in the last two decades of my career. As US Ambassador to Ukraine, I saw daily how Russia used energy as a weapon to undermine European sovereignty and facilitate corruption. Putin’s brutal invasion has caused global energy prices to rise and American citizens are suffering as a result. “Our government is working tirelessly to minimize this pain, including through historically leading and coordinated strategic oil releases with our partners and allies.”
Aim to Ensure US Energy Technology Leadership
“As a diplomat who has dealt with economics in his career, I take seriously the urgent need to defend American commercial and technological leadership. If my candidacy is validated, I will work with business leaders and entrepreneurs to promote US-led investment in energy technologies in all areas – especially those needed to achieve a low-carbon future… Success “It requires persistence and a diplomacy-focused strategy to strengthen our international energy cooperation,” Jeffrey Payat said in a statement.
The announcement of Payat’s candidacy by the White House
The White House announced in April that President Joe Biden intended to appoint Ambassador Jeffrey Payat as Undersecretary of State for Energy. According to the White House announcement, Jeffrey Payat served until recently as US Ambassador to Greece, a position he held since 2016. As the announcement noted, from 2013 to 2016 he served as Ambassador to Ukraine. Earlier, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Head of the Center for Central Asian and South Asian Affairs. He has been authorized by the US Mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency and to international organizations in Vienna. From 1999 to 2002 he served as financial advisor to the US Consulate in Hong Kong and from 1997 to 1999 as head of the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan. He was a member of the National Security Council, in the staff of Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbot, and participated in US missions to Honduras and India. Finally, he studied political science at the University of California (Irvine), and in 1987 he completed his postgraduate studies in international relations at Yale University.
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