For a while, one particular idea swirled in their heads. The chances of success seemed slim, but I had to try. November 2021, in the midst of a pandemic, at the Kokkari restaurant in San Francisco. Angelo Tsakopoulos, his daughter Eleni Kunalaki, Andy and Mike Manatos, father Alex, and businessmen Dennis Miele and George Marcus invite then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to dinner. Close friends for over 30 years, they ask her for a huge favor. “Write history for Greece”. Six months later, the Prime Minister of Greece addresses Congress in a joint session of the two legislatures.

Nancy Pelosi spoke about the incident at an official dinner in Washington. in the context of the 4th Southeast Mediterranean Conference organized by Kathimerini, Delphi Economic Forum and HALC (Greek American Leadership Council). Mr. Tsakopoulos, who, had he not been so humble, could have told many such stories, received a “leader” award from one of America’s most powerful women for his contribution to the advancement of Hellenistic issues. The presence of Ms. Pelosi at the Greek convention, and indeed with her husband in general, an incident that shows the regime of absolute secrecy in which the Greek-American factor is at work, even “Happy Birthday”, sung by the powerful Bob Menendez, the head of HALC, Eddie Zemenidis, in front of surprised delegates , they reflect both the personal relationships that always act as catalysts in the American capital, and the strong new momentum that Greece has acquired in the US.

Many years ago, the conferences held in Washington were sluggish for our country. Yes, the Greek Americans and the Philhellenic legislators went, but we almost “talked and listened to each other.” The financial crisis intervened and things got even worse. Today, as evidenced by the Kathimerini conference, there has been a structural change in the image as well as in the essence of the role played by Greece, which “has become part of the wider debate in Washington” and “plays a role larger than its size.” “, to use two recurring phrases. The influence of the Philhellenic lobby on the highest levels of American leadership, as well as in key centers of strategic decision-making and policy-making, was evident on both days of the conference.

There were members of the most serious think tanks and institutions with the greatest special weight, that is, where strategic thinking develops, the American plan for the next day is formed, and ultimately policy is made. The so-called insiders from Washington took seats on all panels of the conference. People who have served in previous governments will serve in the next or will have an advisory role in the current one. The people who write their opinions in the most important publications on the planet and read them carefully are the ones in whose hands the future of the planet is. Their massive participation is admittedly one of the biggest successes of this particular conference.

On the substance of the discussions and opinions expressed, Turkey, or otherwise the “elephant in the room” as many analysts described it, almost reflexively returned in most analyzes, even if, out of human sympathy and delicacy, the moderators refrained from specific questions, because of the endless drama that the neighbors are experiencing after earthquakes. There are three conclusions that can be drawn from what was said publicly and behind closed doors.

First, no one in Washington is currently looking for real solutions to the many problems in US-Turkish relations. We are far from it. We are only looking for ways to manage them. Secondly, there is great uncertainty about the future, as no one is able to predict how things will turn out. In short, Turkey has become a real mystery to the American bureaucracy and analysts. And thirdly, Turkey’s position has put itself in the most disadvantageous position that experienced American diplomats can remember.

The so-called insiders from Washington were present at all the panels, and their mass participation is one of the biggest successes of the conference.

Lawmakers attended, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Representatives John Sarbanes, Gus Bilirakis, Chris Papas, David Cichillin and Robert Menendez Jr., and the head of the AJC (American Jewish Committee). Ted Deutsch, who promised to continue to work on solving the problems that concern us.

Senator Menendez, in addition to the news he released about the F-35, reiterated his rationale for the F-16 while speaking with HALC chief executive Eddie Zemenidis. He explained that it was not a matter of people’s sympathies, but as the chairman of the relevant committee, he had no reason to approve the sale of weapons to countries that do not respect democratic values ​​and principles and behave hostilely towards their neighbors.

Senator Chris Van Hollen went even further with Alexis Papahela, saying that if President Biden tries to bypass Congress and sell the plane to Turkey today, he will get the required two-thirds of the votes in the House and Senate. against him, which creates the so-called conditions of protection from the right of veto. He even explained that even if the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO is achieved, no one guarantees that the reaction in Congress will subside. He paid special attention to the protection of the Kurdish allies of the United States in Syria, which, according to him, should be included in the conditions for giving Ankara a “green light” for the sale of fighters.

Rep. Chris Papas said that as co-chairman of Hellenic Caucus, he will continue to oppose the sale of American fighter jets to Turkey and promote action to achieve this goal. He even stressed that Turkey’s participation in NATO should in no way serve as a shield to protect Erdogan and his criminal behavior.

Rep. David Cichillin, leader of the Greek Assembly and a staunch ally of Greece, said that “providing American weapons systems to countries is a privilege, not a right”, and in the case of Turkey, instead of diversifying its behavior after being forced out with F -35, her requests were varied and enriched.

Gus Bilirakis treated this possible sale with the same negative attitude – he himself took the lead in preventing it. The youngest member of parliament, Robert Menendez Jr., said that on these issues he fully agrees with the positions expressed by his father, chairman of the relevant committee.

The fact that all these members of Congress took the time to attend the Greek conference a few hours before the US President’s annual address to the US Congress, which is one of the most important political events in Washington, has been commented as a development of special interest, importance. In fact, shortly before the start of the speech, an attentive observer could see in the footage broadcast live by CSPAN, Greek Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou, who was warmly welcomed by senators and congressmen from both parties. An image that reflects the bipartisan support our country enjoys in one of the most venomous and divided Congresses in modern American history.

“Bold Dislocation”

Athanasios Ellis, director of the English-language edition of Kathimerini, asked Ted Deutsch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), about the possibility of Kasidiari’s participation in the upcoming elections. Mr. Deutsch noted that it is the Greeks who will decide what the rules of participation are, at the same time he emphasized that what the government did in 2014 was extremely important not only for Greece, but for the whole world. Golden Dawn is not just a far-right nationalist party, I called it a neo-Nazi party, but I corrected that. Nazi. The dismantling of the Golden Dawn was a very courageous act. People should be ruthless to such cruel and dangerous rhetoric, and I am sure that this is what we will see, ”he said.