Seven months after taking up his duties Donald Trump As the 47th US president, they needed to crystallize views, but also to publicly reflect the strategy of his administration against Greece, as well as the wider southeastern Mediterranean region.
The reason for the new Trump administration to open its papers was yesterday’s hearing from the US Senate Kimberly Gilfail For the position of its country’s ambassador, in Greece. Having studied the fields of Greek -American cooperation, but also transferring the mark of the new US administration for bilateral relations, Mrs. Guilfail He praised Greece’s role in arresting and consolidating democracy, referring to the country’s credibility as unmistakable ally inside and outside NATO, while revealed New Investment Projects which seems to be promoting the Trump administration in the wider area.
From the first moments of her position, however, Ms. Gilfail stood out the triptych: Defense, energy, reliability, describing Greece as’Stability Pillar » in the wider area. Speaking in a personal tone, the new ambassador pledged to contribute to further modernizing Greece’s defense capabilities, he said that Athens would reach the 5% GDP target for NATO expenses, while arguing that Greece was coming to a fifth cost. defense spending of the worldwide. In this context, the lady Guilfail He has been on as important purchases of US defense equipment from the Greek Armed forcesuch as F-35 fighters, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, as well as modern ships – and highlighted the importance of the common co -production plan of the type of frigates Constellationwhich enhances US-Greece industrial cooperation. “If I am confirmed, it will be my priority to further accelerate the modernization of Greek defense,” she said.
At the same time, the lady Guilfail described a new energy treatywhich will provide for “the possibility of exporting more American energy in Greece and Europe”, as he explained, focusing on the LNG terminal at Chickpea and the FSRU floating unit in Alexandroupolis, facilitating the exports of American gas to Europe. He noted that the US already covers 20% of the gas market in Greece, compared to just 2% five years ago.
New conductor in Trump designs
In fact, the lady Guilfail announced the White House’s intention to proceed with ‘Vertical corridor“, That is, a new gas pipeline of American interests, which will limit this market for China and Russia. “If you validate my appointment, I will work with Greece to commercial investment in basic gas pipelines, such as the so -called” vertical corridor “that connects Greece with Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Central Europe,” gas In the region, ”, further stressing the importance of Greece’s electrical interconnections with Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, which enhance regional energy security.
“Key Point” is Greece
In addition, the lady Guilfail It described Greece as a “key point” for the wider region, while particularly in the credibility of the country as a US ally, an attitude that must be rewarded as a sample of stable and faithful attachment. At the same time, he highlighted the issues of respect for religious freedom, “pointing” with meaning to her Turkeyin which he criticized the S-400s, but also the F-35s.
As he said, ‘Turkey has chosen to proceed with Russia to S-400 missile systemsand this raises serious issues of alignment with NATO’s strategy. ” has been blocked because of her own choices.
Station in her career
In fact, yesterday’s hearing from Kimberly’s Senate Guilfail It is its first public appearance as a US government official, that is, as a ruling of the Trump rule, signaling its transition from the role of intra -party supporter in taking over the duties of US ambassador. In this light, “suggesting for Greece, the birthplace of democracy is a deep honor,” Gilfail said, thanking President Trump and Foreign Minister Mark Rubio for their confidence in her suggestion.
Present of her son, but also by the grandson of US President Donald Trump III, Mrs. Guilfail
She referred to her personal journey, talked about her parents – her Puerto Rican mother, a special education teacher, and her father, immigrant from Ireland – and pointed out her obligation to continue the values she conveyed to her. She described her candidacy for the embassy in Greece ‘Unique Price’stressing that Greece, the birthplace of democracy, embodies the fundamental principles of freedom, self -ruling and the rule of law. “These values have echoed through the centuries and inspired the founders of the American nation,” he noted.
The “father” of the cessation of the F-35s
Of particular value, during yesterday’s hearing from the Senate, had what was said about the F-35 program, as “I am the one who paused the F-35s. And I will continue to maintain this pause for many different reasons, “he said in a US senator, before the lady Guilfail. Making a reference to Greek -Turkish differences, The chairman of the committee argued that these differences do not have the promotion they should have in the US media. At this point, he noted that “the Greeks have justified our help for many of them for a long time”, asking to hear K.’s views. Guilfail on these issues.
He also did not fail to offer advice to the proposed ambassador, saying: “Your predecessor, George Tsouniswho is here and our ambassador to Turkey had a very close relationship. I was often talking to them and they were very good at settling the issues. That is why I will urge you to develop the same kind of contact as our ambassador to Turkey. “
Finally, the senator Jim He expressed his indignation at Turkey’s stance on the issue of Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to NATO. “I quarreled with them. I led the effort to integrate Sweden and Finland into NATO. It was incredibly disappointing. Turkey used its power because everything must happen unanimously in NATO to keep these two countries out. It was a big issue, “he said.