ATHENS — US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt noted that the US continues to engage diplomatically in the eastern Mediterranean region, speaking at the online conference held by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, titled 'The Geopolitical Role of Greece as a Pillar of Stability and Cooperation: Serving as a Deterrent Force in the Eastern Mediterranean'.

The Ambassador underlined that Greece's position regarding the continental shelf of Aegean islands is one and the same to that of the US and the EU, and he added that "we have spoken very clearly about the destabilizing nature of some of Turkey's actions, especially the provocative memorandum of cooperation signed with Libya."

He added that "we want all involved to focus on dialogue and to take advantage of the opportunities that exist towards setting a positive tone, but to also recognize basic principles of International Law."

Referring to Greek-American relations as currently "at their best," he said that "a stronger, more secure Greece really serves America's interests," noting that this is reflected in US investments in Greece's defense and security sectors and its cooperation with the Greek military, adding that the US industry supported Greece during the difficult years of the economic crisis.

"In Greece we see an ally," Pyatt noted, "with a strong convergence of interests with the United States, whether these have to do with the development of energy projects in the eastern Mediterranean (…), or in terms of cooperation with countries such as North Macedonia that can "move forward as a member of NATO and hopefully as a member of the EU."

The US diplomat said the United States has invested heavily in relations among Greece, Cyprus and Israel, as both Washington and the US Embassy aspire to the eastern Mediterranean being "a unified, strategic region."