The American Hellenic Institute has sent a formal letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of his visit to Athens ...

The American Hellenic Institute has sent a formal letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of his visit to Athens for the 6th U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, urging him to back Greek and Cypriot sovereignty under international law. AHI President Nick Larigakis wrote that Rubio's visit comes at "a critical moment for the Eastern Mediterranean," pressing Washington to reaffirm its strategic partnership with Greece given Athens' role as a steadfast NATO ally. The letter highlighted Greece's support for U.S. operations at Souda Bay and its broader contribution to regional security. On energy, the AHI called for continued U.S. support for the U.S.-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center and the 3+1 cooperation framework between the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, noting Greece's growing role as an energy gateway for Europe. The sharpest lines in the letter target Turkey directly. The AHI urged the U.S. government to maintain CAATSA sanctions on Turkish entities, oppose Turkey's return to the F-35 program, and reject any Turkish attempts to block legitimate energy development or threaten the sovereignty of U.S. allies in the region. The letter was addressed to Rubio specifically because of the timing of the strategic dialogue, making it one of the more pointed pieces of lobbying to land on the Secretary's desk ahead of an Athens visit. #Greece #Cyprus #EasternMediterranean