The relationship of the USA with Greece was and is “good, regardless of the governments”, stressed US senators at the Economist conference, in a session on: “US foreign policy priorities in the region after the outcome of the upcoming US elections”.

“Greece has played a very important role as an ally of the USA,” US Senator Gus Bilirakis said in an online intervention, and added:

“And it has played a very important role in the Eastern Mediterranean as well. Regardless of the American election, this alliance will exist. We want to promote the mutual good relationship between the two countries and I will include Cyprus as well. In my term in Congresso I have made efforts to create some ties between the United States and the countries that are in Eastern Europe.”

Mr. Bilirakis noted the cooperation between the two countries in the field of security and defense, the energy projects encouraged by the US, the important role of the port of Alexandroupolis and the prospects of the energy interconnection of Greece with allied countries in the region, while criticizing Turkey’s moves that “endanger” good neighborly relations with allied countries in the region, specifically mentioning its aircraft overflights regarding Greece, but also its “aggression” towards Israel.

Regarding relations with NATO, Mr. Bilirakis underlined that in a subsequent Trump administration, of the Republicans, there will obviously be persons who have already given examples of writing in foreign policy during the previous Trump administration. Referring to what this might mean for the US attitude towards the countries of the region, he emphasized that “the alliances will continue to exist with Greece and Israel and with other countries in the region”.

“Everything shows that people are looking for peace in every aspect of their lives and they also want financial security. We see that there are issues all over the world in the Middle East in Ukraine, of course I support Ukraine, but what should be done, what will be done is an excellent question. If we bring Russia and China together we have some enemies around the world. As far as NATO is concerned, our position is that they (all allies) should pay, just like Greece, all these years. Even in difficult times, Greece paid 2% of its GDP for defense. This is something that we are advocating that other NATO member states should do as well.”

“Regardless of the governments, the relations between the two countries have always been cordial,” said the US senator from Nevada Dina Titus, but underlined that a possible Democratic administration would further strengthen relations with all the countries of the wider region and Europe.

“A Harris government will be a government that promotes foreign policy. And the choice of people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a catalyst for the promotion of the government’s ideas and the continuation of all the positive steps that have been taken both at the level of relations between the European Union and the US and many other countries.”

Ms. Titus expressed reservations about the priorities a possible Trump administration would set in relation to Ukraine, NATO, and European allies.

“If Harris wins, what will happen is that there will be a continuation of the good cooperation with the wider region and there will be support for all the Western Balkans, so that they progress towards the rule of law and towards their inclusion in the European Union. We should not forget the role played by the USA in recent years in de-escalating various crises and conflicts that occurred in the periphery of the European Union, for example in Kosovo. A Harris administration has a more sensitive approach to foreign policy. A Harris administration wants to protect its partners and create a stable framework for cooperation.”