Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Gilfoil in a high-level diplomatic exchange carrying clear political weight. The meeting comes as Tsipras’s newly formed coalition party — the Hellenic Left Alliance (ELAS) — seeks to establish its identity and credibility on foreign policy.
Setting the Record Straight on Bilateral Relations
At the heart of the discussion were recent developments in Greece and the wider region, as well as the future trajectory of Greco-American relations. Tsipras outlined the rationale behind ELAS’s formation, framing it as a response to the need for both ‘political change’ and ‘a change in policy’ within Greece.
He also highlighted key areas of cooperation between Athens and Washington — including strategic dialogue, defense, economics, and energy — referencing concrete steps taken during his premiership from 2015 to 2019. In doing so, Tsipras underscored that constructive engagement with the U.S. is not the exclusive domain of the current government.
A Call for Reciprocity Over Assumption
Tsipras stressed that Greco-American relations must be grounded in mutual benefit — not what he termed the logic of the ‘given ally’ or ‘blank check diplomacy.’ This phrasing signals a deliberate effort to distinguish ELAS’s foreign policy vision from the current administration’s approach, without undermining the strategic importance of the U.S. partnership.
Diplomacy Over Military Action
The former premier emphasized Greece’s role as a pillar of peace, stability, and security in the Eastern Mediterranean — a role best fulfilled through diplomacy rooted in international law, rather than military operations that violate it.
He specifically addressed the Middle East, calling for an immediate end to hostilities and the ongoing atrocities in Gaza by the Israeli government. At the same time, he welcomed U.S. initiatives aimed at halting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and achieving a just and sustainable peace.
Cyprus and a Message to Ankara
Tsipras voiced strong support for UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s initiative to restart negotiations on the Cyprus issue — aiming for a fair and lasting solution based on the Guterres framework.
On Turkey, he urged the United States to send a clear message to Ankara ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in the Turkish capital — one emphasizing respect for international law and an end to provocations. He also opposed new U.S. arms sales to Turkey under current conditions, including the potential transfer of F-35 fighter jets.