U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up his visit to Athens with a concrete result: a $4 billion Foreign Military...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up his visit to Athens with a concrete result: a $4 billion Foreign Military Sales agreement that will arm Greece's air force for years to come. The deal covers missiles and bombs for the F-35 fighter jets Greece is set to receive starting in November 2029, along with munitions for its existing F-16 fleet. It also includes the upgrade of 37 F-16 combat aircraft. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis framed Greece's role in blunt terms during their meeting at Maximos Mansion. He told Rubio that Greece is not just a pillar of stability in a turbulent region but a bridge connecting Europe, the West, the United States, the Middle East, the Arab world, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, calling Greece an "indispensable partner" for the U.S. Rubio responded that Washington values Greece as a powerful partner and that the two sides are continuing to deepen a relationship that benefits both countries. Beyond the arms deal, Rubio's speech at the Pnyx hill with the Acropolis as a backdrop drew significant attention. He used the setting to deliver what many observers are calling a personal political manifesto, drawing on ancient Greek ideas to address the challenges facing the modern Western world. Some analysts see the speech as positioning for a future presidential run. Washington also signaled strong interest in energy infrastructure, particularly the Vertical Corridor project for transporting American natural gas to European markets. Rubio declined to comment publicly on an electricity cable connectivity project, indicating that issue requires quiet diplomacy rather than public statements. Greek officials view the visit as a full vindication of Athens' foreign policy choices over the past several years. The arrival of the U.S. Secretary of State put to rest any doubts about the state of the Greece-Washington relationship and sent a strong message in every direction. #Greece #NATO #USGreece