WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said he wants to work toward further deepen security ties between the United States and Greece. Responding to a written question from Senator Robert Menendez, the nominee described the US-Greece relationship as important for Washington's interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and spoke positively about US participation in the Greece-Cyprus-Israel trilateral scheme (3 + 1).

Senator Menendez's Question: In the previous Congress, I led the effort to pass the Partnership for Security and Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean (EastMed Act). The law envisions a new strategy based on US cooperation with the region's three republics, Greece, Israel and Cyprus. How will you continue to strengthen the investments described in the law and further promote the crucial security relations with Greece and Cyprus?

Blinken's reply: If my appointment is ratified, I look forward to further reviewing this legislation and working with Congress and colleagues in all services to support strong ties between the United States, Greece, Israel and Cyprus. US-Greek security relations are important to our interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and has grown significantly as bilateral ties have improved since the Obama-Biden administration. If my appointment is ratified, I will work to continue to deepen ties between the United States and Greece, as well as Cyprus.