Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
As Greece watches Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, officials in Athens believe the country’s relationship with the U.S. will remain steady regardless of who wins, Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. Greece has worked to strengthen diplomatic ties with the Biden administration, including increased communications at high levels. Greek officials are confident they can manage shifts if Republicans regain control, citing four main factors.
First, Greek leaders have established strong contacts in both major U.S. political camps. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has met with key figures like Mike Pompeo, potential defense secretary in the Trump administration. The involvement of Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, a former ambassador to Washington, has been instrumental due to her knowledge of U.S. politics.
One concern for Greece, however, is Trump’s history of close ties with authoritarian leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Secondly, Greece recently took up a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, giving it greater influence in international affairs at a time of key U.S. interests, such as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Thirdly, U.S. reliance on NATO bases in Greece, notably in Souda Bay, Crete, and Alexandroupoli near Eastern Europe, reinforces the strategic value of the bilateral relationship. These bases are critical to U.S. defense interests and are unlikely to change in importance regardless of the administration.
Fourth, Greece’s military procurement plans, particularly for F-35 fighter jets, are already underway, so no new major arms deals are pending that could be impacted by a U.S. policy shift.
One concern for Greece, however, is Trump’s history of close ties with authoritarian leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Trump win could lead to U.S.-Turkey relations improving, potentially reopening Turkey’s access to the F-35 program after its removal for purchasing Russian defense systems. Turkey’s tense relationship with Israel, however, could still limit U.S.-Turkish alignment in the region.
