US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, congratulated Greece on its Independence Day, on March 25, while praising the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
“The United States and Greece share a democratic and intellectual heritage that strengthens our collaboration in many fields, including our robust economic and military cooperation,” Rubio said in a statement.
“We welcome Greece’s commitment to defense spending to modernize its armed forces, which strengthens our collective defense and deters threats to our shared security. The foundation of our close ties is the strong cultural and familiar bonds between our two peoples, including the vibrant Hellenic diaspora community,” he added.
Rubio went on to say that the United States is proud to partner with Greece during its term as a member of the UN Security Council “where we are working together to address global challenges. We are also committed to addressing the crisis of illegal migration and fostering a stable and prosperous Eastern Mediterranean.”
“As you celebrate this anniversary, we honor the relationships between our people and look forward to continuing to deepen our partnership.”
Rubio’s statement on Greece’s Independence Day comes as US President Donald Trump hosted a special event at the White House to celebrate Greek Independence Day, joined by representatives from Greek-American organizations and church officials.
Trump praised the contributions of Greek-Americans in his administration, highlighting that while the world was facing challenges, things have improved under his leadership. He expressed gratitude to the Greek-Americans working in his administration, calling them “amazing people.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America also participated in the Greek Independence Day event at the White House, congratulating Trump on his election victory and comparing him to Emperor Constantine the Great, a revered figure in Greek Orthodox tradition.
At the end of the event, Trump signed a proclamation declaring March 25 as “Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy,” a tradition held annually at the White House to honor the historic ties between Greece and the United States.
On February 28, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis met in Washington, emphasizing the deepening strategic partnership between Greece and the United States.
The discussions reaffirmed Greece’s critical role as an important NATO ally of the US and Athens’ contributions to regional stability, energy security and defense cooperation, the US Department of State’s press release stated.
Secretary Rubio emphasized the importance of the US-Greece alliance, particularly in addressing shared challenges such as illegal migration, as both countries face serious pressure on that front.
Rubio also applauded Greece’s leadership in regional energy projects and its commitment to defense spending, which exceeds NATO’s 2 per cent GDP guideline. Additionally, Rubio welcomed Greece’s upcoming tenure on the UN Security Council for 2025-2026, as this could be another field for collaboration on global security issues between Greece and the US.
Greece’s Foreign Minister Gerapetritis echoed these sentiments expressed by Rubio, highlighting Greece’s dynamic contributions to Eastern Mediterranean security and energy initiatives. The ministers agreed to enhance cooperation in defense, trade, tourism and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI).
