The inter -party support surrounding Greek -American relations was demonstrated at the recent hearing of the new US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Gilfilebefore the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.
In particular, the new US ambassador to Greece stressed that Athens’ concerns about Turkey’s equipment with US weapons systems and military means, such as Stealth F-35 fighter aircraft, are “absolutely justified”.
Indeed, she highlighted key positions in Greek foreign policy, which received clear support from both Republicans and Democratic Senators, underline government sources, which proves the effectiveness of Greek diplomacy to promote national interests.
Senator Korey Booker, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and with whom the Greek Foreign Minister had met first on June 24, 2024 in Athens and then on February 27th. need to upgrade of the frame that governs the bilateral defense cooperation, ie Mutual defense cooperation agreement also known as “MDCA”.
In addition, he expressed his reflection on the course of Greek -Turkish relations, specifically stating that Turkish challenges against her Greek sovereignty and of their maritime border remain, keeping in the forefront the resuscitation her tension.
For her part, Kimberly Gilfil described these concerns as “absolutely well-founded”, stressing that similar reservations are also expressed by other US allies, such as Israel and Cyprus, in particular in the prospect of Turkey’s further equipment with advanced US weapons.
At the same time, it praised Greece to comply with its NATO obligations, with defense spending exceeding 3% of GDP, which ranks Greece in 5th place in the supply of defense material.
In his position, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Reese, who also had a meeting with George Gerapetritis on 27.02.2025, pointed out that he had prevented and would continue to prevent the transfer of the F-35s to Turkey, while referring to us, while referring to us, while referring to Turkey. Tensions in Greek -Turkish relations are not sufficiently highlighted by US media.
Finally, Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and also met by the Greek Foreign Minister on 27.02.2025, asked Kimberly Gilfil if he shared the view that Turkish challenges in the air and sea should be addressed.
For her part, the new US ambassador to Greece responded that she would always be aligned with the positions and directions of the State Department Department and the US President, while pledging to work to further deepen bilateral cooperation.
In this context, Chris Van Hollen also pointed out that Greece is always moving on international law, which is in the interest of Greece in the interest of the co -opinion and concluded by saying that the US must support the application of international law in similar cases.