Mitsotakis

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has confirmed plans for a "diplomatic initiative" to help de-escalate tension resulting from recent Turkish moves challenging Greece's sovereign rights off the coast of the island of Crete.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis conveyed Greece's concerns about Turkish activities in the Eastern Mediterranean during his visit to the White House on Tuesday, both in person to US President Donald Trump during the meeting of the two delegations and publicly in front of the cameras, but he did not get the response he expected.

The meetings scheduled by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for Friday with the leaders of the country's opposition parties on actions taken by his government on key national issues as well as the outcome of his visit this week to the United States, where he met with President Donald Trump, are essential.

Amid acrimony between the government and main opposition SYRIZA over the outcome of his talks on Tuesday with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is to brief the leaders of opposition parties on Friday and Monday about the visit, as well as key foreign policy issues.

The United States will be assuming an active role in easing tensions created by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean, particularly following its maritime borders and defense agreements with Libya's Tripoli-based government, sources told Kathimerini in the wake of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.

Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said on Thursday Greece is interested in acquiring a squadron of US-made F-35 fighter jets in the coming years as part of its plan to reclaim its superiority over Turkey in air defence.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated his invitation to American businesspeople to invest in Greece as the country recovers from a decade of economic crisis, as he addressed US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a dinner in his honor at the State Department.

US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted the close relations between the United States and Greece and lauded Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' efforts to reform the Greek economy at a reception in his honour in Washington on Wednesday, the last day of his visit to the United States.

The simple fact that it was agreed in advance that Donald Trump and Kyriakos Mitsotakis would not hold a joint press briefing following their meeting on Tuesday in Washington was a clear indication of how the US president perceives Greek-American relations. It also underscores the justifiable fear in Athens of Trump's impulsive behavior. 

On the final day of his official visit to the US and his second day at Washington, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with prominent members of the two congressional legislatures, the Senate and the House of Representatives.