“THE Eastern Mediterranean faces many challenges in today’s changing geopolitical landscape. From the threat of climate change and the need for energy security to them dangerous leaders in the neighboring one Turkey or the Russia. But the Eastern Mediterranean is also a very promising area,” emphasized the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert (Bob) Menendezin his video message shown at the 1st East Macedonia & Thrace Forum, which organizes the Olympia Forum in Alexandroupoli, examining the role of the region in upgrading Greece’s geopolitical footprint.

Mr. Menendez expressed his satisfaction with the participation of many distinguished academics, thinkers and business leaders in the forum held in the capital of Evros, underlining the critical role of Alexandroupolis, which functions – as he underlined – “as an important defense hub of the US and the NATO and now it is also turning into an energy hub with a new liquefied natural gas facility.”

“Greece’s willingness to lead by example when it comes to energy is not just the definition of moral leadership. It makes perfect economic sense,” noted the US senator and added: “Greek innovations in solar and wind power solidify your leadership in this space, bringing greater economic opportunities to your people long into the future. Your country is showing the world how adopting clean energy puts you at the cutting edge of innovation. But there is still more to be done.”

The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate said he was proud to have been a long-time supporter of the Greek-US relationship. “As the son of refugees myself, who came to the United States in search of a better life, I have a deep appreciation for the Greek-American community, its incredible achievements and contributions. That is why so much of the legislation I have introduced and passed in my term in Congress has focused on strengthening the bond between our two nations,” noted Mr. Menendez, citing the Eastern Mediterranean Security bill as an example. and Energy Partnership Act”, which allows the emergence of a new energy center, which will give impetus to the region’s path towards renewable energy sources and also the bill for the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Partnership Act), “helping to expand an already strong alliance”.

The US senator also said that he has spoken with US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about specific plans that will contribute in this direction and pledged to continue to press to ensure that there are plans in place, “efforts which will benefit security by making the region less dependent on fossil fuels from Russia and other authoritarian regimes.”

“So let’s continue to build on what we have already achieved together”, he underlined, welcoming the joint efforts “to bring greater security and prosperity to the Eastern Mediterranean and the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace”.