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The United States and Greece agreed to strengthen security cooperation through a new program to share counterterrorism information between their law enforcement agencies, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Athens on October 7, 2026, for the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue.

Rubio described Greece as a “strong and model NATO ally” and said the two countries were working together against common threats, including terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking and illegal migration.

The two countries also announced $4 billion in U.S. Foreign Military Sales to support Greece’s long-term defense plan, improve interoperability between their armed forces and explore further cooperation in the defense industrial base.

Greece finalized its participation in the U.S. National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program with Florida, and the two sides also agreed to strengthen military interoperability by providing Stryker vehicles.

The strategic dialogue covered defense, regional security, energy, trade, investment, and advanced technologies. The two countries also agreed to cooperate on investment screening and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Greece, a key U.S. and NATO partner in the Eastern Mediterranean, provides important military facilities and leads an EU maritime mission protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Athens also said it was willing to provide maritime assistance in the Strait of Hormuz if a viable peace process is established.

Energy and Technology Cooperation

The United States and Greece agreed to deepen energy cooperation, including through the Vertical Gas Corridor and hydrocarbon exploration.

The two sides also highlighted cooperation in ‘superintelligence’, high-performance computing, cybersecurity and other advanced technologies, with Greece participating in the Pax Silica initiative.

They also signed an agreement on certification for U.S. seafarers serving on Greek vessels. The countries extended their Cultural Property Agreement to strengthen efforts to protect cultural heritage and combat illicit trafficking.

Both countries also announced the first U.S. project in Greece under the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Rubio Calls for Stronger Europe

During a speech in Athens, Rubio said the West was at an “inflection point” and called on European countries to increase their defense spending, strengthen industrial capacity and invest in new technologies.

He said Washington wanted to rebuild critical supply chains, reindustrialize the U.S. economy and strengthen defense capabilities, while arguing that Europe could “awaken from its long slumber” and take greater responsibility for its security.

SECRETARY RUBIO: We are two countries that are bound by a common heritage and by proud histories. The United States and Greece share a long history of friendship, partnership, and alliance. https://t.co/z1CwKNNBoi

— Department of State (@StateDept) October 7, 2026

Rubio also defended U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after questions were raised over allegations concerning her conduct, saying the U.S. Embassy in Athens was doing a good job and that Guilfoyle had been a strong ambassador.

Iceland Visit for North Atlantic Security

Before arriving in Greece, Rubio visited Iceland, where he described the country as strategically important to U.S. and Western security in the North Atlantic and Arctic.

In Reykjavik, Rubio said the United States was open to closer security cooperation with Iceland as military, economic, and infrastructure-related threats grow in the High North. The Iceland visit focused on economic and security cooperation and formed the first leg of Rubio’s current European trip.

Rubio’s visit to Greece and Iceland is part of a three-country European tour from October 5 to 8 that will conclude in Portugal.

After Iceland, he traveled to Athens for the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue and will travel to Lisbon for talks with Portuguese officials on defense, economic and technology cooperation.

The tour brings together U.S. discussions with three NATO allies on defense, regional security, energy, economic cooperation and Europe’s role in responding to growing security challenges.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Iceland sits at the center of many of the questions surrounding the security and defense of our shared region. https://t.co/RwWq77lcos

— Department of State (@StateDept) October 6, 2026