New U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, in her first interview with Greek media, hailed Greece as a key emerging energy hub and a vital U.S. ally, praising Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the "surprising" speed of recent bilateral agreements.
Speaking to a local broadcaster with the Acropolis in the background, Ms. Guilfoyle presented the Trump administration's vision for a deepened strategic partnership.
Her interview followed a week of high-level diplomacy, culminating in the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) conference in Athens.
“We achieved so much in just a few days,” Ms. Guilfoyle said, referring to the major energy deals finalized at the Zappeion Hall. “There is enormous excitement.
The prime minister is very enthusiastic about the partnership and what we have achieved."
Ms. Guilfoyle noted she has already met Mr. Mitsotakis four times since her arrival.
“I like him very much, and I like his wife Mareva as well. They are wonderful people — hardworking, smart, talented," Ms. Guilfoyle said. "They love their country and showed immediate and sincere interest in working with me for a highly productive period ahead.”
The ambassador stressed that energy cooperation is central to Washington’s strategy in the region.
"That is why Donald Trump chose me to serve here,” she said.
“We want to show that Greece can become the energy hub that helps us counter Russian and Chinese interests. What we seek is energy independence that supports national defense and security.”
She pointed to the "Vertical Corridor" for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and the P-TEC conference, which produced a "wide range of agreements and memorandums of cooperation.”
She credited the Greek ministers she worked with, "many of whom I met even before coming to Athens," for helping secure the significant outcomes.
The interview comes at a time of renewed geopolitical focus on the Eastern Mediterranean, as Greece seeks to solidify its role as a regional pillar of stability.
When asked about a potential U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, Ms. Guilfoyle reiterated that U.S. law currently prevents such a sale, but added, “no one can know what will happen in the future.”
The ambassador's high-profile start underscores a new phase in U.S.-Greece relations, with Athens positioned as a key partner in Washington's energy and security architecture for Europe.