U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to visit Athens in July ahead of a critical NATO summit, U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle has announced, as plans take shape for President Donald Trump to make an official visit to Greece later in 2026.
Mrs. Guilfoyle, speaking during a visit to Greek national broadcaster ERT, confirmed the high-level cabinet visits will precede the NATO summit in Turkey and said planning for a presidential trip is actively underway.
White House advisers are said to be strongly encouraging Mr. Trump to schedule the visit to coincide with the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The symbolic resonance of linking the semiquincentennial of American democracy with a state visit to its ancient birthplace in Athens has reportedly been a persuasive argument within the administration.
No final decision on the presidential itinerary has been announced.
The prospective visits reflect the deepening strategic relationship between Washington and Athens.
Greece has positioned itself as a key NATO anchor in the Eastern Mediterranean, is rapidly moving toward the alliance's defense spending benchmarks and has cultivated a network of bilateral partnerships — with the United States, France, Israel and Gulf states — that has elevated its geopolitical standing significantly in recent years.
Mrs. Guilfoyle earlier told the Delphi Economic Forum that President Trump views Greece as a "foundational strategic partner" in one of the world's most critical regions, describing the bilateral relationship as stronger than at any point in recent memory.