The Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Vasilis Kikilias, outlined plans to deepen cooperation with U.S. counterparts in shipping and port infrastructure, linking Greece’s maritime heritage to its emerging energy role.
He said prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has tasked his ministry with exploring partnerships between Greek and American shipyards, expanding ship repair and shipbuilding collaboration, and attracting U.S. investment into Greek ports. He added that frameworks for such partnerships are expected to take shape “in the weeks and months to come.”
As the first day of the meeting of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) unfolded in Athens, Greek ministers and executives hailed new partnerships and rising investment interest, projecting confidence about the country’s energy future.
Vasilis Kikilias emphasized that “the prime minister has given an order to begin discussions with our American counterparts on how to strengthen shipyards and ports, here and in the United States, so that they can be connected to each other.”
He also added that “in the coming weeks and months we will proceed with an agreement regarding American strategic investments in Greece, in the area of infrastructure.”
“Whoever dominates the sea, dominates trade and energy,” noted the Greek minister, recalling that over 80% of world trade is transported by sea. He pointed out that Greece has 20% of the world’s merchant fleet, which makes it a crucial factor in the energy supply chain.
The minister explained that LNG is the fuel of today and will shape the global energy reality in the coming years, with Greece and the United States cooperating to transport it to allies across the Atlantic.
Kikilias underlined that in his discussions with the American ministers are include the shipyards, ship repairs and shipbuilding of new ships, as well as investments in ports and the workforce.
In closing, the minister stressed that these initiatives have a substantial impact on the real economy, bringing cheaper energy, cheaper goods, lower inflation, stable economies and new investments.
