ATHENS — Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, the ministry said on social media.

Both recognized that "bilateral relations between the two countries have reached their highest level ever," the ministry wrote on Twitter. Ways of "further enhancing the strategic cooperation were examined, with special emphasis on the energy and defence fields", it added.

The two officials discussed bilateral relations and ways of further enhancing the strategic cooperation between the two countries, with an emphasis on energy and defence.

Dendias also spoke about developments in the broader region, including Libya, Syria, and the Eastern Mediterranean, making also a reference to Turkish activities in the region, the ministry said. 

I spoke by phone to US FM @StateDept@SecBlinken. Both recognized that bilateral relations between the two countries have reached their highest level ever. (1/4)

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) February 15, 2021

The U.S. Department of State issued the following statement on Feb. 15:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias today. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Dendias emphasized their commitment to further strengthening U.S.-Greece bilateral relations, including through the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue and the 3+1 process with Cyprus and Israel, and close cooperation on defense, energy diversification, and stability in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.

Secretary Blinken welcomed Greece’s sustained leadership in advancing the Transatlantic and European integration of the Western Balkans. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister reaffirmed the historic importance of North Macedonia’s NATO accession. The Secretary voiced support for ongoing exploratory talks between NATO Allies Greece and Turkey and congratulated Greece on the occasion of the Greece Bicentennial celebrations this year.