By Ioannis Fidanakis, former Executive Director of the American Hellenic Council.
On November 5th, the American people cast their ballots for the 47th President of the United States, and to the surprise of many, former president Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, winning both the electoral college and the popular vote. The decisive victory has since sent shockwaves throughout the country and around the world. For those of us interested in Greek national issues, you may be wondering what a second Trump Presidency might mean for Greek-U.S. relations and the wider eastern Mediterranean region, and the truth is, we have nothing to fear. Although his critics often brand him as reckless and isolationist, Trump’s “America First” approach is a strategy of restraint, in which the United States only intervenes when its core security interests are at stake. This means no more costly and prolonged military engagements and ‘nation-building’ projects in secondary theaters. A second Trump Presidency will likely focus on challenging China, Russia, and Iran in strategic core regions, such as the eastern Mediterranean.
Greeks and Greek-Americans alike can rest assured that relations will remain stable and essential. In fact, Trump’s return may be an opportunity for Greece to strengthen its current position in the region and further develop soft power in the Levant and the Balkans. While the rest of Europe may be bracing themselves for Trump 2.0, Greeks should remember that our bilateral relations with the United States are deeply rooted in shared national interests that transcend partisan politics. Greece is home to the strategically crucial U.S. Naval base at Souda Bay and, therefore, vital to American national security. During the previous Trump administration, Athens and Washington maintained excellent relations, with President Trump signing the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act into law and the U.S.-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act. Unlike other NATO allies, Greece was, and still is, viewed as a loyal and reliable partner that pays its financial obligations to NATO.
In regards to the eastern Mediterranean, it is safe to assume that the new Trump administration will once again hold Turkish President Erdogan accountable for his aggressive and unlawful behavior. Although President Erdogan may view Trump’s re-election as a chance to restart U.S.-Turkish relations, it’s doubtful that he will be able to convince the new administration to su
pport his delusional “Blue Homeland” doctrine or to betray Cypriot sovereignty. During his previous presidency, Trump was no friend of Turkey and displayed his willingness to levy sanctions and even threaten to destroy the Turkish economy to challenge Erdogan’s agenda. Given Trump’s recent cabinet nominations, it’s reasonable to believe that Erdogan’s hope for warmer relations may rely on his willingness to tone down his rhetoric and aggressive posturing.
Since winning the election, the President-elect has nominated several critics of the Erdogan regime to high-ranking Cabinet positions, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, and Congressman Michael Waltz as his National Security Adviser. Senator Rubio himself has a legislative track record of working with the Greek-American community, co-authoring the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act and the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act.
As the world grapples with the return of Donald Trump, Athens should see the incoming administration as an opportunity to strengthen its regional position and develop further economic and cultural influence in the eastern Mediterranean. The new Trump administration will be looking to bolster its regional partnerships to counter Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence. As a loyal and reliable regional partner and a newly appointed member of the United Nations Security Council for the next two years, Greece is in a unique position. We could see a resurgence of American support for the EastMed pipeline and a strengthening of Greek and Cypriot EEZ rights. But more than that, Greece could, if it wanted, play a pivotal role in assisting the new administration in ending the war in Gaza, thereby enhancing our diplomatic standing in the region and, most importantly, among the native Greek Orthodox population of the Levant.
The following historical article was published in “Today’s World” magazine in 1974. This is an historical look at Cyprus that Professors Theodore Saloutos and Spyros Vyonis had asked me to write when we first organized “The Save Cyprus Council.” In addition, as the first secretary of the Council I wrote several “Letters to the Editor” to many American newspapers as well as pamphlets distributed at our first rallies at Griffith Park, Redondo Beach, Pasadena and other communities.
