The Greek authorities are preparing the international tender for the sub concession of part of the port of Elefsina, however already at the preparation stage it is clear that this is not a classic international tender procedure, but a politically predetermined one with a predetermined circle of permitted participants.
Formally, the intention is announced to exclude investors from Russia, China, and Turkey, under the pretext of protecting strategic infrastructure and national security.
In practice, this simply underscores the real nature of the future “tender” and the subservience of the Greek government to the designs of the United States and their plan to replace expensive American LNG with cheap Russian gas.
The port of Elefsina is located in the western part of Attica, in immediate proximity to the naval base on the island of Salamis and the military airport of the Hellenic Air Force.
It is precisely this proximity that is used as an argument to deny participation to “undesirable” investors.
However, the very logic of such restrictions raises questions.
Under today’s geopolitical conditions, the participation of Russian companies in such a project would be impossible.
Therefore, the reference to the Russian Federation in the list of excluded countries is rather symbolic.
And it is precisely this reference that reveals the essence of what is happening.
When a country whose participation is excluded in advance is deliberately included in the list of restrictions, then we are not talking about competition, but about a specific political message.
In this case, Russia is used as a geopolitical backdrop, as a convenient indicator that allows the process to be presented as adherence to principles and to a “common security line”.
Pressure from the United States over the port of Piraeus
With China and Turkey, things are different.
The Chinese company COSCO controls the largest Greek port, Piraeus, turning it into a key logistics hub for Beijing in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is precisely this fact that has irritated Washington for many years.
The interest of the United States in Elefsina is explained simply: it concerns the creation of an alternative commercial port in Attica, which will function as a counterweight to Piraeus and will weaken Chinese influence.
According to Greek media, the tender is scheduled to be announced in the first quarter of 2026.
The directive comes directly from the office of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and is part of a broader plan to deepen Greek American cooperation.
The issue has already been discussed specifically in a meeting between the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Vasilis Kikilias and the Ambassador of the United States to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Formally, the process will be called an “open international tender”.
Predetermined process
However, taking into account the predetermined restrictions, it becomes obvious that in essence there is no choice.
Investors from Russia and China are excluded, while the United States are the ones publicly demonstrating real interest in the project. Under these conditions, the tender is transformed into a tool for legitimizing an already taken geopolitical policy decision.
The deadlock and American pressure
At the same time, a more subtle calculation on the part of Athens cannot be ruled out. With the creation of a new “strategic” port under American influence, Greece acquires leverage in the dialogue with the United States regarding the port of Piraeus.
In essence, this is an attempt to find a way out in order to avoid direct pressure from Washington for a review or weakening of Chinese control over the COSCO container terminal.
Instead of confrontation, it is chosen to offer a counterbalance.
Thus, Elefsina is transformed not simply into a port project, but into an element of geopolitical bargaining.
And the louder the words “security” and “strategic infrastructure” sound, the more obvious it becomes that the real objective is the redistribution of influence and not the protection of national interests in the classical sense, as Greece becomes involved without reason in a harsh geopolitical competition.
As a result, the “tender” in Elefsina does not resemble a typical international tender procedure for securing an investment, but a carefully shaped and submissive political gesture, with a predetermined direction, clearly defined boundaries, and a winner known in advance.
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