A joint letter from the foreign ministers of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus has invited the United States to join the upcoming ministerial meeting of the 3+1 format (Greece, Israel, Cyprus + USA). This initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to Kathimerini, the letter is directed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“This trilateral cooperation has already gained recognition from the United States. During your time in the Senate, you, Mr. Secretary, played a crucial role in promoting legislation that fortified the ties between our three democracies in the Eastern Mediterranean and the United States,” the letter states.
The three ministers reaffirm their commitment to strengthening collaboration with Washington across vital areas, including energy security, counter-terrorism, innovation, digital technology, civil protection, and cybersecurity. They highlighted that “the Eastern Mediterranean is becoming increasingly important as an energy and infrastructure hub connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Hadjivassiliou, in comments to APE-MPE during the 6th ECONOMIST conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasized the strategic and multidimensional nature of the 3+1 format (Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US).
“At the ECONOMIST conference, we discussed the 3+1 framework and explored cooperation prospects among the participating nations. I emphasized Greece’s strategic relationship with the United States, alongside our close ties with Cyprus and our partnership with Israel,” he stated.
Discussions extended beyond energy, considering security, innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence.
“We addressed energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and its significance, not just for the countries involved, but also for the US. We explored how the 3+1 format can collaborate effectively and expand possibilities, focusing on security, technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence—areas crucial to modern challenges,” Hadjivassiliou remarked.
He reiterated that the 3+1 framework could be a vehicle for promoting the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
“I conveyed that Greece sees the 3+1 as a platform that can support the IMEEC economic corridor. We recognize its significance, and due to its geographic and geopolitical stature, Greece could serve as a natural gateway to the IMEEC corridor in Europe. We also discussed the collaboration within the 3+1 format regarding energy, particularly interconnection projects. The significance of the GREGY cable, which will deliver green energy from Egypt to the European market via Greece, and the Great Sea Interconnector, linking Greece with Cyprus and Israel, was emphasized as a means to unite Europe and the Middle East in energy,” he added.
He concluded by highlighting that these projects address multiple geostrategic objectives.
“I reiterated Greece’s support for these initiatives and emphasized their necessity, as they benefit not only our countries but also Europe and align with American interests and priorities,” he asserted. On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Hadjivassiliou also met with former White House Chief of Staff Rins Priebus and exchanged views on current foreign policy issues related to Greek-American and Euro-American relations. He also met with Chad Wolf, the former US Secretary of Homeland Security and current Vice President of the “America First” Institute.
While in New York, the Deputy Foreign Minister participated in an event organized by the Hellenic American Bankers Association and visited the New York Stock Exchange to discuss investment opportunities in Greece and promote Greek entrepreneurship.
He also conducted an interview with CNN’s Jim Sciutto regarding tariffs and economic recovery.
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