WSJ raises questions over Kimberly Guilfoyle’s role in Greek LNG deals and adviser’s ties to Aktor

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US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has come under scrutiny over her promotion of American liquefied natural gas deals in Southeastern Europe and the prominent role played alongside her by Greek American lobbyist Christos Marafatsos , according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal.

The report examines Guilfoyle’s diplomatic efforts to expand US LNG exports in the Balkans, while raising questions about her repeated involvement with Greek construction and energy group Aktor and Marafatsos, a lobbyist for the company.

Guilfoyle has strongly backed the development of the so called Vertical Gas Corridor, a regional network intended to bring US LNG into Greece and transport it northwards to Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.

According to the WSJ, however, Marafatsos has frequently accompanied Guilfoyle to meetings with senior government officials despite having no formal diplomatic position.

Some officials reportedly mistook him for a member of Guilfoyle’s staff.

Marafatsos at Guilfoyle’s side

The WSJ reports that Marafatsos was present during Guilfoyle’s meetings in Bulgaria, including a meeting with the Bulgarian president.

He has also accompanied her during meetings in Greece and elsewhere in the region.

At a recent conference in Thessaloniki, a Wall Street Journal reporter reportedly saw Guilfoyle and Marafatsos arrive together in the back of a black BMW at the head of the US diplomatic motorcade.

Marafatsos entered the hotel through a separate entrance, according to the report.

The newspaper says several people who met with Guilfoyle and Marafatsos, including government officials, said Marafatsos did not disclose his relationship with Aktor.

Former US officials involved in the development of the Vertical Gas Corridor also reportedly told the newspaper that embassy officials who had worked on the project for years had not previously dealt with Aktor or viewed the company as a potential partner.

Robin Brooks, a former US diplomat who spent 21 years at the State Department and previously served as director for the Balkans and Central Europe at the National Security Council, told the WSJ that the involvement of a lobbyist in meetings with foreign officials raised questions about whether meetings were serving US interests or private interests.

US Embassy rejects concerns

The US Embassy defended Guilfoyle’s activities, telling the WSJ that her trip to Bulgaria was intended to advance US interests by increasing American LNG sales to European partners and reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas.

The embassy said her travel complied fully with State Department guidance on official trips.

Guilfoyle’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, also rejected the suggestion that she had focused on one particular company.

He said Guilfoyle had worked with companies across the energy sector and that official meetings were coordinated through embassy channels rather than through Marafatsos.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Guilfoyle, describing her as highly effective in advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Aktor’s growing LNG ambitions

Aktor has become increasingly involved in the regional LNG market.

In November, the company announced the creation of Atlantic SEE LNG, a joint venture in which Aktor holds 60% and Greek state backed energy company DEPA holds 40%.

The venture subsequently signed memorandums of understanding and commercial agreements involving gas companies in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania.

The WSJ also reported on a $6 billion, 20 year agreement involving Albania, Venture Global and Atlantic SEE.

Under the arrangement, Albania is expected to purchase around one billion cubic metres of gas annually from Venture Global through an American subsidiary established by Aktor.

The newspaper noted, however, that it remains unclear whether all of the agreements will ultimately be implemented.

Ukraine’s state owned gas company told the WSJ on Friday that negotiations over future gas purchases from Atlantic SEE had stopped.

Aktor’s lawyers rejected the suggestion that Guilfoyle had improperly promoted the company.

They said Aktor’s participation in the Vertical Gas Corridor began before any contact with Guilfoyle and argued that the company was an attractive partner for US interests because it has no ties to Russian natural gas.

Guilfoyle’s wider diplomatic role

The WSJ portrays Guilfoyle as an unusually prominent figure in the Trump administration’s diplomatic push across Southeastern Europe.

Since arriving in Athens, she has travelled throughout the region as the administration seeks to strengthen US energy relationships and reduce Russian energy dependence.

Her position has also given Greece a direct link to the Trump administration, something some Greek officials reportedly welcome.

At the same time, the newspaper reports that some officials are wary of antagonising an ambassador who is regarded as having close access to President Trump.

The report also describes an alleged confrontation between Guilfoyle and Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou at a dinner in Athens in March.

According to people cited by the WSJ, the discussion concerned political developments in Romania and became heated.

Guilfoyle’s lawyer disputed the newspaper’s account of the exchange.

From Trump politics to Athens

Guilfoyle became closely associated with the Trump political movement during his first presidency.

She previously worked at Fox News and was engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

Trump announced her nomination as US ambassador to Greece in December, following lobbying by people close to Trump Jr., according to sources cited by the WSJ.

Guilfoyle has also spoken publicly about her longstanding connection to Greece.

The newspaper reports that she has described an interest in Greece dating back to her university years, when she studied Greco Roman history.

Her appointment also revived attention in Greek media to comments she made on Fox News in 2015 during the European debt crisis, when she criticised Greece’s economic management.

Marafatsos’ background

Marafatsos, who grew up in Maryland, has previously been involved in a range of business ventures.

According to the WSJ, his background includes co founding a fruit and vegetable distribution company in the Washington area, real estate consulting and other commercial ventures.

He later became involved in Trump politics and served as chairman of Greek Voices for Trump.

He told the newspaper that he met Guilfoyle during the early years of Trump’s political movement.

Since her nomination as ambassador, Marafatsos has increasingly appeared alongside her and has reportedly helped prepare her for meetings and appearances.

A source cited by the WSJ said he also helped prepare Guilfoyle for her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing.

Marafatsos has denied wrongdoing and said he is proud to support commercial initiatives that advance US interests and create long term economic opportunities in Greece and Southeastern Europe.

His lawyer disputed some elements of the WSJ investigation without providing further details.

The Albania meetings

One of the most significant episodes described by the newspaper concerns Albania.

According to the WSJ, Guilfoyle made an undisclosed visit to Tirana in March, travelling without embassy staff and accompanied by Marafatsos and Aktor chief executive Alexandros Exarchou.

The group reportedly met Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and discussed energy cooperation.

Weeks later, Albania received an email from the Trump administration’s National Energy Dominance Council recommending companies that could potentially supply American natural gas.

According to Albanian Energy Minister Enea Karakaci, the proposal identified Venture Global, which had already signed an agreement with Aktor.

Guilfoyle returned to Albania in April for the signing of the reported $6 billion agreement.

The WSJ said Atlantic SEE subsequently announced plans to double the volume of gas it would purchase from Venture Global.

Aktor estimates that pretax profits from LNG agreements already signed or being negotiated could reach €1.8 billion over 20 years, according to the newspaper.

Venture Global deal highlighted in Thessaloniki

At the Thessaloniki conference earlier this month, Guilfoyle publicly highlighted the Atlantic SEE agreement with Venture Global.

Before taking part in a panel on energy security, regional cooperation and strategic partnerships, she reportedly handed her mobile phone to Marafatsos.

Her lawyer said this was simply because her dress did not have pockets.

During her speech, Guilfoyle praised the Venture Global agreement and the progress of the Vertical Gas Corridor, describing it as something that had never been seen before on this scale.

Venture Global told the WSJ that it had met with Aktor and DEPA following discussions with Guilfoyle about the Vertical Gas Corridor.

The company also stressed that it had maintained commercial relations with DEPA for years.

Questions over private and public interests

The WSJ investigation ultimately focuses on the intersection between Guilfoyle’s diplomatic role, the Trump administration’s energy strategy and the commercial ambitions of companies seeking to participate in the emerging regional LNG market.

The US Embassy maintains that Guilfoyle is advancing American energy and foreign policy objectives.

Aktor maintains that its participation in the Vertical Gas Corridor predates its relationship with Guilfoyle and that its commercial position is consistent with US efforts to reduce dependence on Russian gas.

The newspaper’s reporting, however, highlights the unusual visibility of a private lobbyist accompanying a US ambassador to meetings with senior foreign officials and the close connection between those activities and Aktor’s expanding LNG business.

The developments come as Washington seeks to reshape Europe’s energy supply routes, with Greece positioned as a key entry point for American LNG into Southeastern Europe and the Balkans.

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