Congressional Leaders Reiterate Importance of Alliance with Greece and Cyprus

The value of the US ties to Greece and Cyprus was highlighted successful the lawsuit successful Congress. Credit: Greek Reporter

During the yearly Congressional solemnisation of Greek Independence Day, members of Congress and the ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus to the United States underscored the request to fortify their alliances astatine a captious geopolitical juncture.

The lawsuit was organized by the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) astatine the Capitol, successful practice with the Congressional Hellenic Caucus. This year, the 205th day of the Greek Revolution of 1821 occurs alongside the 250th day of the American Revolution—a convergence highlighted by galore legislators successful their remarks.

Emphasis connected strategical practice betwixt the US and Greece, Cyprus

Democratic Representative Chris Pappas (NH), co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus, acceptable the code for the lawsuit by emphasizing the extent of existent energy, military, and economical cooperation. “We person ne'er relied connected Greece and Cyprus arsenic overmuch arsenic we bash today,” helium noted. Pappas described the Hellenic Caucus arsenic a “genuinely bipartisan” conjugation successful an epoch of heavy governmental part successful the U.S., explicitly stating that 1 of the group’s goals is to antagonistic “Turkey’s malign influence.”

Democratic Representative Dina Titus (NV), a subordinate of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed these sentiments. She characterized Turkey arsenic a “problematic and unreliable ally,” arguing that Greece holds a “pivotal geopolitical position” and acts arsenic a dependable spouse done its vigor practice with Cyprus and Israel.

Foreign argumentation concerns and defense

Republican Representative Mike Lawler (NY), seat of the Subcommittee connected the Middle East and North Africa, expressed explicit absorption to the merchantability of F-35 combatant jets to Turkey. This presumption was shared by Democratic Representative Gabe Amo (RI), besides a subordinate of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Democratic Representative Frank Pallone (NJ) offered a broader position connected U.S. overseas policy, stating, “Our alliances are being tested—not lone with Greece, but overall, adjacent wrong NATO.” Nevertheless, helium affirmed his unwavering committedness to the U.S.-Greece confederation and reiterated the long-standing American argumentation supporting the reunification of Cyprus.

Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL), co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus, highlighted Greece’s caller inclusion successful the State Partnership Program (SPP), which volition facilitate subject practice betwixt the Greek Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard.

Statements from diplomats and leadership

Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Antonis Alexandridis placed bilateral relations successful a humanities context, noting, “Greek revolutionaries were inspired by the American Revolution, conscionable arsenic the founders of the United States were inspired by Athenian democracy.” He described the narration arsenic reciprocal, emphasizing that Greece remains a “pillar of stableness and prosperity” wrong an unstable geopolitical environment.

Cyprus Ambassador Evangelos Savva stressed that successful a “particularly hard geopolitical environment,” Cyprus and Greece are warring for “freedom, the regularisation of law, quality rights, and due relations betwixt states,” identifying some nations arsenic “pillars of stableness successful the Eastern Mediterranean.”

AHI President Nick Larigakis reminded the assemblage that Cyprus has endured 52 years of amerciable occupation, that Turkey continues to situation Greek sovereignty, and that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is inactive denied afloat spiritual freedom. He besides noted that Greece has surpassed NATO’s defence spending target, with expenditures reaching 5% of its GDP.

The lawsuit was besides attended by Representatives Jim Costa and Josh Gottheimer, with a connection of enactment sent by Senator Chris Van Hollen.