Thessaloniki Port and the geopolitical chessboard: U.S. and French interests challenge Chinese dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean

The strategic dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean maritime corridor are experiencing a notable transformation, largely influenced by the United States’ initiative to recalibrate its regional presence and counteract Chinese expansionism. The port of Thessaloniki (OLTH) is emerging as a pivotal element in Washington’s broader Indo-Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) strategy.

In the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions, the U.S. aims to reduce China’s influence in Greece and the surrounding Balkan region, with particular focus on the Piraeus port, which has been taken over by COSCO, a Chinese company. Thessaloniki, owing to its proximity to the Western Balkans and its ability to quickly connect to Central and Eastern Europe, is positioned as a crucial alternative entry point into the European internal market.

This strategic shift involves multiple layers of engagement: the U.S. is diplomatically endorsing Thessaloniki as a vital component of the IMEC corridor, while French logistics giant CMA CGM aims to exert control over the port—indicating a new power balance with significant geopolitical implications.

As the U.S. seeks to enhance Greece’s regional significance and diversify supply routes away from the Chinese-controlled Piraeus, France’s growing presence highlights a broader European interest in maintaining sovereignty over essential infrastructure, amid rising concerns about Chinese influence and strategic dependencies.

The port’s evolving role reflects a larger regional reorganization of maritime assets in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the U.S. actively refining its Greece-centric strategy to create alternative routes for energy and trade, thereby lessening reliance on Chinese-dominated entry points.

This situation indicates a critical shift in regional geopolitics, placing Greece—and Thessaloniki specifically—at the crossroads of converging interests from Washington, Paris, and Beijing. The outcomes of these developments will likely shape the economic and strategic landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean for years to come.