U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Greece next week for high-level talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between Athens and Washington on defense, energy and regional security, the State Department confirmed on Thursday.
The visit to Athens will form part of a European trip from October 5 to 8 that will also take Rubio to Iceland and Portugal.
In Greece, Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation at the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, the main diplomatic framework through which the two countries coordinate cooperation across a range of bilateral and regional issues.
The State Department said the talks will focus on key U.S. administration priorities, including defense cooperation as well as regional and energy security.
Rubio’s visit provides another opportunity for senior officials from the two NATO allies to discuss their expanding strategic relationship at a time of heightened security concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region.
Greece and the United States have strengthened their defense relationship in recent years, while energy security has also become an increasingly important part of bilateral cooperation.
Rubio’s European Tour Begins in Iceland
Greece will be the second stop on Rubio’s three-country trip.
The U.S. secretary of state will first travel to Reykjavik, where he is scheduled to meet Icelandic officials for discussions on economic and security cooperation.
After his meetings in Greece, Rubio will continue to Lisbon for talks with Portuguese officials.
According to the State Department, discussions in Portugal will focus on strengthening cooperation in defense, economic affairs and technology.
The three-country tour will run from October 5 through October 8.
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