Newsroom
“We can do this to any country we want. We can do it here, too.”
Those are the explosive words reportedly used by U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle during a private dinner in Athens, according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal.
If accurately reported, the remark appears to suggest that Washington could help bring down elected governments—including Greece’s.
The alleged exchange took place in March during a dinner attended by Greek and American officials. The discussion turned to the expected fall of Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government, prompting a heated exchange between Guilfoyle and Greek Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou.
According to a person cited by the Journal, Guilfoyle suggested the United States had played a role in Romania and could do the same elsewhere.
Papastavrou reportedly pushed back, telling her that Washington could not change a government elected by the Greek people.
Guilfoyle’s lawyer has disputed the newspaper’s description of the conversation. There is also no independent evidence proving that the United States was involved in bringing down Romania’s government, which fell on May 5 after 281 lawmakers backed a parliamentary no-confidence motion.
Still, the reported words have landed like a political grenade in Athens, with Greek opposition parties demanding explanations from the government.
The wider investigation concerns Guilfoyle’s efforts to promote American liquefied natural gas across southeastern Europe. Washington wants countries along Europe’s eastern flank to purchase more U.S. LNG through the Vertical Gas Corridor, which would transport gas from Greece through Bulgaria and Romania toward Central Europe, Moldova and Ukraine.
The Journal also examined Guilfoyle’s support for Greek construction group Aktor, which is involved in efforts to bring American LNG into the region.
For Cyprus, the controversy is not entirely distant. Nicosia is strengthening its defense, diplomatic, and energy ties with Washington while positioning itself as a regional partner in the Eastern Mediterranean.
There is no suggestion that Cyprus was mentioned in the alleged exchange. But for a small country that depends heavily on larger allies, the episode touches a sensitive nerve: Where does diplomatic pressure end and interference in a country’s democratic choices begin?
Energy projects are often presented as straightforward business deals. This report suggests that behind the pipelines, shipping routes and contracts, a much harder political contest may also be taking place.
Guilfoyle’s alleged comments remain disputed. But Washington—and Athens—may now have to explain what exactly was said, what was meant and whether the ambassador was boasting about influence the United States never exercised.
Because “we can do this here, too” is not the sort of comment an elected government can simply pretend it never heard.
