While relations between Donald Trump and several European states cool down, Greece is trying to become one of the closest allies of the Republican administration in Europe.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is preparing a warm welcome for the American leader and is trying to strengthen the strategic partnership with Washington.
According to an analysis published by Politico, Athens' approach to the Trump administration has both geopolitical, military, economic, and ideological stakes.
The U.S. Ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle, has confirmed that Trump will visit Greece, without specifying the travel date. She has long supported the idea of the American leader giving a speech on the Acropolis, in the context of the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.
Trump has already begun to send favorable signals to Athens. The Republican leader has described Greece as "great," and Mitsotakis, a Harvard graduate, as "an extraordinary guy."
Greece sees the U.S. as the main shield against Turkey
For the government in Athens, the current closeness to Trump has significant strategic implications. Greece views the United States as the primary security guarantor against Turkey, especially given the presence of an important American naval base in Crete.
According to Politico, Greek authorities are even trying to reduce the periodic closeness between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
At the same time, Greece is working to strengthen its economic relationship with Washington. In recent months, significant agreements have been signed in the energy sector, and projects supported by American investments have been accelerated.
These include an agreement with ExxonMobil to start offshore drilling, the first project of its kind in Greece in over 40 years.
Athens and Kiev have also agreed on the import of American liquefied natural gas for Ukraine, making Greece the first EU country to participate in Washington's plan to replace Russian gas with American LNG.
U.S. Ambassador attacks China's influence in Greece
Kimberly Guilfoyle has also drawn attention with harsh statements against China. In her first interview given in Greece, she called China's ownership of the Port of Piraeus, one of the country's most important ports, "unfortunate," suggesting that the situation could be "resolved," including through a potential sale.
Subsequently, the Greek government accelerated plans for the development of a new port supported by the U.S. in Elefsina, near Athens.
The project has been criticized by the Opposition, which considers it non-transparent and politically motivated. Analysts cited by Politico have warned that a new large port, built just about 20 kilometers from Piraeus, would be difficult to justify economically and environmentally.
However, the American ambassador has stated that her goal is to aggressively promote U.S. interests in the region and limit China's influence.
"Every day, when I wake up in the morning, I will find a way to promote American interests, money, and infrastructure, to collaborate with Greece and the rest of our allies in this region, and that means aggressively pushing back against Chinese interests," Guilfoyle said.
She also spoke about the very close relationships with Greek government officials, stating that she frequently discusses with Mitsotakis and several ministers.
Greece becomes a platform for MAGA influence in Europe
The Delphi Economic Forum, one of the most important economic and political events in Greece, has become a meeting point for representatives and influencers close to MAGA in recent years.
At the April 2026 edition, several figures close to the Trump administration participated, including Paul Dans, one of the authors of Project 2025, and representatives of the conservative platform Breitbart.
"You have to choose a side," said Paul Dans to Politico, referring to the strategic competition between the U.S. and China.
Matthew Boyle, a Breitbart journalist, stated that Greece has become one of the most important allies of the United States in Trump's second term.
Mitsotakis tries to mend the relationship with Trump
The current closeness to Trump comes after a complicated period for Mitsotakis.
In 2022, the Greek Prime Minister was perceived as close to Kamala Harris after a speech in the U.S. Congress and good relations with the Democratic administration.
After Trump's return to the White House, this proximity to Democrats began to be presented by far-right parties in Greece as a vulnerability.
Several Greek conservative leaders then began to adopt a discourse increasingly close to MAGA and to criticize "woke" policies. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said he would "vote for Trump with both hands," and Migration Minister Thanos Plevris claimed that American voters had voted against illegal immigration and the "woke agenda."
The Opposition now accuses the Mitsotakis government of "servile obedience" to Trump.
However, the rapid change in direction seems to be yielding results. In a recent interview with Breitbart, Mitsotakis conveyed to Trump that he will feel "at home" in Greece. "Greeks are very proud of their hospitality," the Greek Prime Minister said.