Prime Minister Mitsotakis: So I guess this photo might be –
Prime Minister Mitsotakis: Yes, this photo may strike some chords—yes, it will. (laughter.)
Secretary Rubio: Oh, I – we don’t really have anything similar in the US to offer, so that’s pretty much it –
Prime Minister Mitsotakis: Well, first of all, welcome and congratulations on a very, very impressive speech that I think highlights not only the historical ties between our two countries, but I think the gratitude that the rest of Europe has for ancient Athens. I do remember you pointing out in this photo that you were a member of the welcoming committee when I had the opportunity to speak before Congress and talk about this common path between our two countries. I’m glad that our relationship (unintelligible) is at an all-time high at this time.
I believe that Greece is not only a pillar of stability in a turbulent region, but also a bridge between Europe, the West, the United States, the Middle East, the Arab world, and the GCC countries. In that sense, yes, I agree with you that we are an indispensable partner to the United States, and I’m glad that our relationship also goes beyond the traditional security and political partnerships that we have. Energy and connectivity are now very important in our bilateral relationship. It’s great that Greece has invested significant resources in becoming an entry point for U.S. LNG into Europe. We are now the provider of energy security to our northern neighbor. And also the emphasis we place on our connectivity plans, and the huge role that Greek shipping plays in the movement of goods. Of course, we share a common interest in maintaining freedom of navigation, which is vital to the functioning of the world economy.
These are just some of the things we have in common. But I’m glad that strategic dialogue touches on all of these issues. Welcome again to Athens, and congratulations on your speech, which I think will resonate with you far beyond the venue where you gave it.
Secretary Rubio: Well, thank you. First of all, thank you all for the welcome. How are you? Thank you all for welcoming me and giving me this opportunity to speak for the first time on such a historic occasion. I never thought I would have the chance to do this. I think it’s important, but really, more than anything, it builds on the theme of our visit, which is the historic alliance between the United States and Greece, which is not just historic, it’s historic – it’s built on very strong pillars of shared culture, shared values, and as you said, it’s only going to continue to grow. It goes beyond simply defense, which we’ve been working on, and even beyond foreign affairs, which we’ve been working on. But now it extends to economics, trade, international maritime rights and security, energy. As you said, there’s a lot of insecurity surrounding you in the region, but to have you here as a strong partner to us and continue to develop that relationship in a mutually beneficial way, I think we can do some things economically, energy and trade that are helpful to the Greek people and to the American people, and we’re always looking for those opportunities.
One thing I would say defines our alliance – because sometimes the word “alliance” sounds like it’s just a diplomatic alliance. But one of the things that underpins our partnership – our very strong partnership – is that we agree on the same issues. We agree that we face the same problems, and we often disagree on the correct solutions. So when you have a partner like that – not to mention a strong historical connection that is the foundation of our relationship – there’s a lot to be excited about. I’m happy to be here and look forward to continuing to develop this relationship.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis: Thanks.