US Secretary of State Rubio Arrives in Athens for Sixth Strategic Dialogue Amid Tight Security

Marco Rubio arrived in Athens around 9:20 p.m., greeted by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, to launch the sixth round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue covering defense, energy, technology and cultural heritage. His agenda includes a foreign-ministry briefing, the opening of the dialogue, a ribbon-cutting for US embassy renovations, a noon-time strategic session, a speech at historic Pnyx Hill and a dinner with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion.

The city has deployed thousands of police, used surveillance drones and imposed a 24-hour ban on outdoor gatherings, while closing major avenues and urging motorists to use public transport. Protesters marched toward the embassy on Tuesday evening. The talks will also feature a Letter of Intent with the Florida National Guard, memoranda on archaeological imports and mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates, and discussions on regional security, trade and investment.