Mike Pompeo

The United States wants to ensure that rules govern exploration of energy sources in the Mediterranean Sea, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to Athens on Saturday, adding that Turkey's illegal drilling in the region is unacceptable.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday signed the Protocol of Amendment to the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA).

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the United States on Saturday to use its influence to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are locked in a dispute over offshore rights.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has told visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Turkey, through its actions, is questioning the sovereignty of both Greece and Cyprus. Mitsotakis added that he expects a "positive contribution" from the United States.

The United States and Greece are working together in the Eastern Mediterranean to expand regional cooperation, including through the "3+1" grouping with Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, the State Department said on Friday, as its head Mike Pompeo started his two-day visit to Athens.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Athens on Friday evening, where he was greeted by Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.

On Saturday, the US official will meet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Dendias and Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is greeted upon his arrival in Athens on Friday evening by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. The two men will ratify on Saturday the amendment to the Greece-US Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA). The new agreement concerns the use not only of Souda Base but the air bases of Stefanovikeio and Larissa in central Greece and Alexandroupoli port.

The deepening of strategic cooperation between Greece and the United States and the mutually beneficial aligning of interests in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean are at the heart of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Athens.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will welcome US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Athens on Friday evening, the ministry said in a press release.

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has commended US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his commitment to the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue ahead of his visit to Athens later this week.