ATHENS – Continuing its careful words diplomacy to avoid agitation, the United States has praised Greece as an “indispensable partner” for NATO and being a valuable ally in the region encompassing Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean.

The US’ State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that in answer to a Turkish reporter’s question about Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias refusing to meet in Libya with the President of a western-backed government in Tripoli – Greece recognizes a Benghazi administration.

Turkey has made a deal with the Tripoli government to divide the seas between them and said based on that agreement that it would at some point hunt for energy off Greek islands, including Crete.

The US, which renewed a military cooperation deal with Greece and wants to add more bases and troops in the country, also has a base in Turkey and has taken positions supporting both countries in their disputes over the seas.

Patel refused to take a stand on what Dendias did, dodging the question to offer a non-answer that, “We view Greece as an indispensable partner and a key NATO Ally to the United States, and Greece plays a critical role in defending NATO’s southeastern flank. And today, together, the U.S. and Greece are advancing our shared goals for not just their immediate region but for Europe more broadly.”