US diplomats clash over competing gas routes to Europe via Greece and Turkey

Behind the scenes in Greece and Turkey, two U.S. envoys are promoting divergent gas strategies for Europe. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle in Athens backs the Vertical Corridor, an LNG-driven pipeline system that already operates from the Revithoussa terminal through the Balkans to Ukraine, with Venture Global supplying gas under long-term contracts with AKTOR’s Atlantic SEE LNG Trade. In Ankara, Ambassador Tom Barrack supports the Development Road, a proposed Qatar-Turkey overland pipeline that would traverse Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Iraq and Syria, and is being pushed by Chevron, Qatar’s UCC and TI Capital, whose founder has close ties to Barrack.

An investigation tied Barrack to lobbying for the Kirkuk‑Banias segment of the project, valued at about $15 billion. Greece’s environment minister, Stavros Papastavrou, cited a 169 % rise in Greek gas exports and urged Europe to secure supply through the Greek corridor rather than Turkey. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated American backing for the Vertical Corridor during a recent visit to Athens.