The excellent level of Greek-American relations at political, economic, defense and energy levels was confirmed today at the meeting held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, with the Democratic Senator, Cory Booker.
Booker is elected in the state of New Jersey, where a thriving Greek community is located. He is a member of the US Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, Justice, as well as the Subcommittee on Africa and visited Athens as part of his tour of the region.
During the talks, there was a broad exchange of views on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the middle East, but also major international crises. In this context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Greece’s commitment to a non-transactional foreign policy of principles and values based on International Law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The discussion focused mainly on the crisis in the Middle East and its effects on Red Sea. Gerapetritis expressed Athens’ support for American President Joe Biden’s peace plan and highlighted Greek initiatives in the Middle East. Underlining the interrelated nature of the crises, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also referred to the destabilizing action of the Houthis in the Red Sea and the risks to the safety of navigation, but also to international trade, highlighting Greek assistance in protecting navigation internationally through its leading role in the EU operation “ASPIDES”.
The two men discussed the situation in Europe, especially after the result of the European elections, the evolution of the war in Ukraine, Greek-Turkish relations and the question of Cyprus, which, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed, must be resolved jointly. based on decisions of the UN Security Council.
Messrs. Gerapetritis and Booker also spoke extensively on energy issues. The Minister for Foreign Affairs developed Greece’s role as an energy hub, which contributes to Europe’s energy autonomy and diversification with critical infrastructures such as the Greece-Egypt electrical interconnection (GREGY), the floating gas regasification unit liquefied natural gas (FSRU) in Alexandroupoli, as well as increasing the percentage of renewable energy sources in its energy mix.
Mr. Gerapetritis presented the “turning page” of the Greek economy, which records high growth rates and an increase in foreign direct investment, such as the main investments by American companies Microsoft, Google and Pfizer. Mr. Booker exaggerated when he said that the progress of the Greek economy makes it a “miracle in the region.”
Finally, the Senator showed particular interest in Greek positions on the situation in Africa. Mr. Gerapetritis referred extensively to the challenges encountered on the continent, given the crisis in the Sahel region with the destabilization of democratic states, humanitarian challenges, the infiltration of foreign forces and piracy. It is absolutely necessary, he stressed, to confront these crises in both Sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb region, in order to avoid further destabilization of the continent.