US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken had a telephone conversation with Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias on Monday, the first contacts since Blinken assumed office.
I a statement, the State Department said that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Dendias emphasized their commitment to further strengthening U.S.-Greece bilateral relations, including through the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue and the 3+1 process with Cyprus and Israel, and close cooperation on defense, energy diversification, and stability in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
Secretary Blinken welcomed Greece’s sustained leadership in advancing the Transatlantic and European integration of the Western Balkans.
The Secretary and the Foreign Minister reaffirmed the historic importance of North Macedonia’s NATO accession. The Secretary voiced support for ongoing exploratory talks between NATO Allies Greece and Turkey and congratulated Greece on the occasion of the Greece Bicentennial celebrations this year.
.@SecBlinken spoke with Greek Foreign Minister @NikosDendias about cooperation in defense, energy infrastructure, integration of the Western Balkans, de-escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and our shared interests in the region. https://t.co/EdrPlIxqka
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) February 15, 2021
On his part, Nikos Dendias posted on Twitter:
I spoke by phone to US FM @StateDept @SecBlinken. Both recognized that bilateral relations between the two countries have reached their highest level ever. (1/4)
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) February 15, 2021
