Rubio heads to Athens, not Ankara, as Greece pushes for F-35s, new weapons and energy backing

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Athens on Tuesday for a two-day visit that will put defence, energy security and rising tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean at the centre of talks with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Rubio’s visit for the sixth Greece-US Strategic Dialogue is being closely watched in Athens, particularly because the US Secretary of State is travelling to Greece without a corresponding visit to Ankara.

For decades, Washington has generally sought to balance its relations with Greece and Turkey by combining high-level visits to both capitals. The decision to visit Athens alone therefore carries added significance for Greece at a time of renewed disputes over sovereignty, energy projects and security in the region.

The visit comes as the United States continues to deepen its strategic cooperation with Greece, Cyprus and Israel while Athens positions itself as a key energy and security hub between Europe, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Defence at the heart of the talks

Defence cooperation is expected to be one of the most important areas of discussion.

Greece is moving ahead with its programme to acquire F-35 fighter jets while continuing the upgrade of its F-16 fleet to the Viper configuration.

The Hellenic Air Force is also reportedly preparing a Letter of Interest to the US seeking additional weapons and equipment for its upgraded F-16s and future F-35s.

The systems under consideration include advanced air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-120D AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-260 JATM, alongside anti-ship and precision strike weapons.

Greece is also interested in the AGM-158 JASSM-ER long-range cruise missile and the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.

Athens is seeking to advance the upgrade of the remaining 38 Greek F-16s to the Viper standard, while the Armed Forces are also examining the acquisition of used US Stryker 8×8 armoured vehicles and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

The discussions come as Greece continues to diversify its defence procurement across the United States, Europe and Israel.

Energy and Crete

Energy cooperation will also feature prominently in the Strategic Dialogue.

The Vertical Corridor is expected to be a key subject, with Greece promoting the route as an important pathway for US LNG to reach the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe.

Athens is also seeking strong US backing for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete.

US energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron are involved in exploration plans in Greek-licensed blocks, making Washington’s position particularly important as Greece faces opposition from Libya linked to the controversial Turkish-Libyan memorandum.

The development of Greece’s offshore energy resources is increasingly tied to the country’s wider strategy of strengthening its role as an energy hub for Europe.

Greece, Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean

The wider security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean will also be discussed.

Greece is expected to emphasise its role as a pillar of regional stability and a provider of security, particularly amid continuing disputes with Turkey over maritime zones, energy projects and connectivity.

The Greece, Cyprus, Israel and US 3+1 framework is also expected to feature in discussions, although a foreign ministers’ meeting in the format does not currently appear likely during Rubio’s visit.

Cyprus will remain an important part of the wider US strategy in the region.

Washington recently renewed the lifting of its embargo on defence equipment sales to the Republic of Cyprus and has strengthened defence and energy cooperation with Nicosia.

Rubio has also reiterated US support for a Cyprus-led settlement under UN mediation based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

That position contrasts with Turkey’s advocacy of a two-state solution for Cyprus.

Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East

Rubio and Mitsotakis are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, developments involving Iran and the wider situation in the Middle East.

The talks will provide Athens with an opportunity to underline Greece’s strategic importance to Washington at a time when the US is seeking reliable partners across the Mediterranean and southeastern Europe.

The sixth Strategic Dialogue was originally scheduled for December 2025 but was postponed amid major international developments.

The meeting will now take place as Greece and the United States seek to expand cooperation across defence, energy, connectivity, trade, investment, culture and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

A joint communiqué is expected at the conclusion of the talks.

For Athens, the central objective will be clear: translate the increasingly close Greece-US strategic relationship into stronger defence cooperation, greater US support for Greek energy projects and a clearer American presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Rubio’s decision to come to Athens without travelling to Ankara adds another layer of significance to the visit as Greece seeks to strengthen its position within Washington’s regional strategy.

If you want, I can also make the headline , with the .

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.