Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Greece for talks that both governments see as proof of how central Greece has become to American strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region strained by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and by friction between two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey.
Mr. Rubio is the first sitting secretary of state to lead the American delegation at the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, now in its sixth round since the forum began in 2018.
He meets Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Wednesday morning, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis later.
The trip matters first because of geography. Greece hosts the Souda Bay naval base on Crete, a staging point for American operations in the Middle East, and the port of Alexandroupolis, which has become a gateway for moving military equipment toward NATO's eastern flank since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Energy is the second draw.
Washington wants Greece to serve as an entry point for American liquefied natural gas moving north to the Balkans and Central Europe, cutting those countries' dependence on Russian supplies, and U.S. companies are involved in exploration off Greek shores.
Turkey hangs over the visit. Athens is expected to press Mr. Rubio on Ankara's challenges to Greek activities in the Aegean, and on the possibility of Turkey returning to the F-35 fighter program.
Mr. Rubio has said that cannot happen while Turkey keeps Russia's S-400 air defense system. Greece has ordered the jets itself.
Greek officials say ties have deepened beyond any single American administration, and credit Mr. Rubio, who as a senator worked with Bob Menendez on legislation tightening U.S. links with Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
They also acknowledge that sympathy has not changed Washington's careful handling of Ankara, which matters to American policy on Syria, the Black Sea and the Caucasus.
The two sides are to sign three agreements: tighter U.S. import limits on Greek antiquities, a partnership between Greek forces and the Florida National Guard, and mutual recognition of seafarer certificates.
Security in central Athens is tight, with public gatherings banned for 24 hours from Wednesday morning.