Pyatt stresses deepening of US-Greece strategic relationship, need for Greek-Turkish ‘modus vivendi’

Geoffrey Pyatt is one of the longest serving US ambassadors to Athens - his fifth anniversary is on 19 May - and his tenure has coincided with some of the more difficult moments in recent history from the country's economic precariousness to Greek-Turkish tensions last summer that brought the two countries to the brink of a military clash at sea.

In a full-length interview with Marianna Kakaounakis at the annual Delphi Forum, Pyatt stressed the Biden administration's intention to deepen bilateral strategic ties and that a visit by PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Washington is on the cards, though at some as yet undetermined point in the future.

He noted in particular the importance of the military relationship which is clearly expanded based on key geopolitical objectives. He did not mince his words regarding the aim of curbing Chinese influence in Greece.

But he also touched on the prospect of direct foreign investment in the country, including the keen US interest in Greek ports and shipyards, and he expressed some optimism (citing the rating agencies) about the prospects for a post-pandemic comeback of the Greek economy.

Pyatt said that Biden has "opened up a new vocabulary of cooperation" with Greece in areas ranging from defence to energy and suggested that Washington will pursue every closer ties based on the existing bilateral agenda. He noted, in that context, that Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken are extremely familiar with Greek issues.

"I think that's certainly President Biden's intention [to change and further improve bilateral relations]…This is a President who knows Greece and the Greek people extremely well. He's made clear that he's committed to raise our relationship to the next level. And that's really true...