Washington aims to play the role of a bridge between Greece and Turkey,as seen from the position of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkenwho arrived yesterday in Athens from Turkey. In Ankara, Mr. Blinken called for a reduction in tensions, and in Athens, he praised her leadership on energy and security.

Courtesy of Blinken in Greece

Vasilis Nedos

The excellent level of Greek-American relations is confirmed by the visit of the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Athens, who last night had a private meeting with the prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who then hosted a dinner in his honor. The landing of Mr. Blinken in Athens immediately after Ankara, where, in addition to meeting with his colleague Mevlut Cavusoglu he also had a brief meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – he also betrays one of the main goals of this particular trip to the region – supporting efforts to open closer and more consistent channels of communication between Greece and Turkey.

Today Mr. Blinken and the Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (despite the cold) will chair the 4th round of the US-Greek Strategic Dialogue and discuss the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement. Mr. Dendias, who was in Brussels yesterday morning at a meeting of the European Affairs Council, was finally absent last night at the dinner given in honor of Mr. Blinken by the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Mr. N. Panagiotopoulos, because according to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “he had a fever due to a cold.”

However, already last night, in brief statements before his meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Blinken outlined what Washington expects from its relationship with Athens, describing the current stage as a period of challenges. Mr. Blinken praised Greece’s role in Ukraine “as one of the first countries that hastened to support Ukraine, to support democracy, which is being tested by Russian aggression.”

Mr. Mitsotakis touched on the earthquakes in Turkey, expressing his hope to “strengthen this mental connection and improve our relationship.”

He mentioned leading role Hellas in the region both in energy matters and “in the integration of the states of Europe, the Western Balkans.” Blinken’s statement is, of course, a reference to the Prespa Agreement, but it should be recalled that Greece also plays an important role in efforts to find a compromise between Pristina and Belgrade.

Speech before Congress

Mr. Blinken also referred to last year’s speech by Mr. Mitsotakis before Congress. “One of the things that you said, if I remember correctly, is what really unites us – the US and Greece – this is the miracle of the Greek idea. The idea that a society works best when its citizens are equal and everyone has the right to participate in the functioning of the state. It is a powerful idea that unites us in something fundamental. It’s an idea that in some places, in a way, is questioned. And the fact that we remain united, I think, is a source of great hope for the future,” he said.

Welcoming the US Foreign Secretary, Mr. Mitsotakis first referred to one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stressed that “we must make it clear that any form of revisionism, any change of borders by force, cannot be tolerated by the international community.” democratic states.” Mr. Mitsotakis even talked about the earthquakes in the neighboring country, expressing the hope that “there will be an opportunity to develop this mental connection and improve our relations.”

Calls to reduce tensions

To our correspondent in Istanbul Manoli Kostidi

Anthony Blinken pointed out as a matter of fact to the US the steps taken Turkey for cooperation with Hellas, Armenia And Israel, while he stressed that Ankara would benefit from reducing tensions and resolving disputes with Greece, as it would be at the center of energy transmission networks from North Africa to Europe. In fact, the American Secretary of State suggested that Turkey get closer to the Western alliance and the countries that represent it in the region.

Mr. Blinken met with his Turkish counterpart during his visit to Ankara Mevlut Cavusoglu. At a press conference, the US Foreign Minister touched upon Ankara’s relations with the countries of the region. “We appreciate the positive steps taken by Turkey to improve relations with Greece, Armenia and Israel, whose citizens have worked side by side with their Turkish counterparts since the earthquake,” said Mr. Blinken.

The US Secretary of State at a press conference stressed that the Biden administration supports the sale of the F-16, but did not give a time horizon when he would raise the issue before Congress. Mr Cavusoglu appeared to be irritated by the US stance linking the F-16 issue to the accession Sweden and Finland V NATO. “It is incorrect and unfair to link the accession of two countries to NATO with the F-16 problem. How can you not get the F-16 conditionally. We should not be handcuffed,” he said. The Turkish Foreign Minister also touched on the F-35 issue and demanded the return of $1.4 billion.

Mr. Blinken, in an interview with NTV, stressed that Greece and Turkey should try to reduce tensions and find a positive path for the future. “If long-standing issues such as maritime disputes are resolved, there will be huge opportunities as Turkey will be at the center of the energy flow. The flow of energy in the Mediterranean, in the Aegean and, above all, in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey will greatly benefit from being at the center of the flow of energy from North Africa to Europe. This will be in the interests of the Turkish people, Turkish companies and Turkey itself. Therefore, the resolution of these long-standing differences will open up new and greater opportunities.”

The US Secretary of State explained that “Congressional concerns must be effectively addressed. Every sale, like the F-16, every package requires congressional approval. It is impossible to move forward on this issue without the approval of Congress.”

Mr. Blinken, shortly before departure from the Turkish capital, met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Ankara’s Esenboga airport. The Turkish President was preparing to leave for the earthquake-affected areas, and political scientists noted that, despite meeting with Blinken, he was not wearing a tie. The meeting was short.