Marco Rubio referred earlier today to the need for expanding close cooperation and taking joint action between Greece and the US in the energy sector, emphasizing the American government's desire to establish Greece as an energy and security hub in Europe through the Vertical Corridor. These statements were made during his visit to Athens, in a joint press conference with Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis. This development reinforces the understanding that the Vertical Corridor constitutes a project of national importance, placing Greece at the epicenter of energy developments and granting it a leading role in energy policy and broader European security.
Alignment
In this direction, both the government and opposition appear to agree for the first time, with recent statements by figures from the Greek Left Coalition, such as Deputy Defense Shadow Minister Katerina Berdou, as well as PASOK MEP, Vice-President of the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and former Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Giorgos Maniatis, highlighting the geopolitical importance of the initiative and demonstrating broader political consensus regarding its significance. The project's geopolitical dimension gains increasing weight, highlighting Greece's role in the European energy architecture and offering an alternative model to existing plans that would keep Europe dependent on Russian natural gas and its transit route through Turkey's TurkStream pipeline.
Entry gateway
Greece acquires the capacity to function as a southern natural gas gateway, which can be directed toward Central and Eastern Europe via the Vertical Corridor through Bulgaria and Romania, strengthening its role as a regional energy hub and contributing to the supply security of European markets. At the same time, through long-term LNG purchasing agreements with the US, our country will offer greater predictability and stability in energy costs. The project will also contribute to the development of new infrastructure, attracting investment, and, above all, strengthening Greece's relations with the US and European institutions, creating conditions for the country's long-term economic and geopolitical upgrade.
National importance
Finally, the significance of the Vertical Corridor as an infrastructure of national strategic importance should not be understated, as it directly connects energy with national security, creating additional incentives for stability in the broader region. Simultaneously, Greece transforms from an energy transit country into a decisive factor for the energy security of Southeastern and Central European states. The more countries link their energy sufficiency to infrastructure passing through Greek territory, the greater our country's strategic and geopolitical weight becomes within the European environment.
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