A shipbuilding agreement between the United States, South Korea and Greece is expected in the near future, US Ambassador to Athens Kimberly Guilfoyle announced amid growing American involvement in the eastern Mediterranean.
“We will have a trilateral shipbuilding agreement with South Korea, Greece and the United States. That is the President’s [Donald Trump’s] priority – to make agreements with allies that we respect and will protect,” Guilfoyle said on Tuesday.
Euractiv learned that the shipbuilding initiative will initially focus on the defence industry. A recent letter from Trump to the newly appointed Greek ambassador to Washington suggests that talks are underway to build American frigates in Greek shipyards.
The Trump administration has shown a strong interest in advancing relations with Greece in the fields of energy and defence. The US maintains a military base in Crete, which helps the US project power in the Middle East and North Africa.
Strong line on China
The US shipbuilding industry has been in decline for some time and needs revitalisation, a Maritime Action Plan published by the White House on 13 February noted, even as China has made remarkable progress in the sector.
The US ambassador again referred to Chinese Cosco investments in the port of Piraeus, saying that, if needed, she will aggressively push back against Chinese interests.
Guilfoyle noted that the Chinese were astute and entered Greece at a time when the country was facing financial difficulties, being the only bidder. She added that this could serve as a lesson for Europe.
Athens has said it cannot alter the long‑term contract with Cosco, and Guilfoyle countered that the only way to counterbalance Chinese interests in Piraeus is to build another port.
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The European Commission is expected to publish a Port Strategy soon, which will address similar matters.
For now, however, Brussels seems less concerned about the Chinese presence in EU ports. Asked about foreign shareholders such as China in sensitive infrastructure – for example, the ports of Hamburg or Piraeus – EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas dismissed the threat.
“No, I wouldn’t say there is a security issue,” he told Euractiv in an interview.
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