Rubio heads to Athens as Greece eyes US weapons — and worries over Turkey

ATHENS — Greece wants American firepower — and Washington’s ear on Turkey.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Athens Tuesday for two days of diplomacy with a NATO ally looking to beef up its military, expand its energy reach and press its case over an increasingly contentious neighborhood.

Defense cooperation and regional and energy security lead Washington’s announced agenda, but the hardware is one of the biggest draws.

Athens is buying American F-35 stealth fighters and upgrading its F-16 fleet, with additional US air-to-air missiles on its wish list, according to Greek newspaper Naftemporiki.

The visit is expected to bring agreements involving new weapons purchases — although no such deals have been announced, Greece’s Kathimerini newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Correspondent was unable to immediately independently verify the reports.

What we do know: Rubio will sit down with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis Wednesday before the two address reporters and launch the sixth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue.

A meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also scheduled for Wednesday evening, Naftemporiki reported.

While Turkey won’t be at the table, its disputes with Greece are expected to get an airing anyway.

Athens is expected to raise Ankara’s maritime claims and regional activities, according to Greek newspaper To Vima, as debate over Turkey’s possible return to the F-35 program adds another sore point between the NATO neighbors.

For Washington, that means tending to one alliance without setting off another.

What I’m most interested in this trip is energy — and I’ll have some special coverage of it coming up after Rubio’s visit.

Greece is seeking a bigger role as a regional energy hub, with a planned undersea electricity cable connecting Greece, Cyprus and Israel among the projects Washington is watching.

The project runs straight into the region’s disputes over maritime rights, putting infrastructure and diplomacy on the same crowded agenda.

At the same time, Greece is part of the Vertical Gas Corridor — a rare south-to-north pipeline helping offset Russia’s energy dominance in Europe.

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There could also be other business beyond fighter jets.

Three agreements are on the table: cooperation between Greece’s armed forces and the Florida National Guard, recognition of seafarers’ qualifications and renewed protections for archaeological and ethnological material, according to Naftemporiki.

Rubio is also expected to deliver a speech at the Pnyx, the ancient meeting place of Athens’ democratic assembly — an historic backdrop for a visit focused heavily on modern military muscle.

The Athens stop is part of Rubio’s Oct. 5-8 tour of Iceland, Greece and Portugal.

Rubio heads next to Lisbon for talks on defense, economic and technology cooperation.

The Correspondent will remain in Athens for other exclusive reporting.