Antony Blinken

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias held his first phone call earlier on Monday with US State Secretary Anthony Blinken, the foreign ministry said.

The two officials discussed bilateral relations and ways of further enhancing the strategic cooperation between the two countries, with an emphasis on energy and defence.

The United States announced on Feb. 12 it is revoking the designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist group effective Feb. 16, a reversal by the Biden administration welcomed by the United Nations and humanitarian groups who feared former president Donald Trump's actions would impede aid deliveries to the conflict-torn country facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to speak with his Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in the coming days, a State Department spokesman said on Wednesday while reiterating that American policy opposing Turkey's Russian S-400 missiles remains unchanged.

Greece welcomed on Wednesday an agreement between the United States and Russia to extend a key nuclear arms control treaty for five years, describing it as "a key element for European and global security." 

US Senator Bob Menendez's return to the chairmanship of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is very important for America, for our commitment to democracy and human rights and for areas in which he has particular interest, such as Cyprus, Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church. His return is important for a number of reasons.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has congratulated veteran diplomat Antony Blinken on his confirmation Tuesday as US Secretary of State.

"I look forward to working together to further strengthen the robust Greece-US partnership, to promote peace and stability in the broader region and to enhance the transatlantic bond founded on shared values," Dendias tweeted.

Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army's elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation on Jan. 22 to become the nation's first Black secretary of defense.

Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has expressed his commitment to further strengthening ties between the United States and Greece, Israel and Cyprus.

US Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken gave a first inkling about the stance the Biden administration will take regarding Turkey in the hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His approach was clearly critical; however, the relationship is complex and any conclusions would be premature.

With the swearing in on Wednesday of the 46th US president, Joe Biden, the further strengthening of bilateral relations with Washington and the building of an autonomous strategic relationship that will not be affected by fluctuations in US-Turkish affairs remains the Greek government's main goal.