US President Joe Biden congratulated Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on his recent electoral victory.
During a phone call on Sunday between the two national leaders, the pair expressed their commitment to continued cooperation via the NATO alliance, strengthening economic ties, and security in the Aegean.
Mitsotakis and Biden previously met in person last May at the White House. Athens and Washington continue to cooperate on several important geopolitical issues.
Biden congratulates Mitsotakis
“President Joe Biden spoke today with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece to congratulate him on his re-election,” read a statement issued by the White House on Sunday.
“The leaders underscored the close relations between our countries, including our strong defense partnership as NATO Allies, efforts to deepen our economic ties, and enduring people-to-people bonds,” the statement continued.
“They pledged to continue the close cooperation between our governments on the full range of shared priorities, including maintaining stability in the Aegean,” the White House statement concluded.
Greco-American bilateral ties
Mitsotakis and Biden met at the White House last May. The pair affirmed that the relationship between the US and Greece is “stronger than ever”.
The US president also took the opportunity to congratulate his Greek counterpart on 201 years of Greek independence. Moreover, he highlighted Greek democracy as an important inspiration for the American political system.
“Today our friendship and partnership between our countries, between Greeks and Americans, I think is more important than ever. And I’m honored to celebrate the partnership with you,” Biden said last May.
The Greek prime minister expressed similar sentiments, saying “My visit to the United States is an opportunity to reassess the status of our relationship, which I honestly believe is at an all-time high.”
More recently, a Pew Research Center survey revealed that anti-American sentiments in Greece are declining. The polling data showed that 56% of Greeks have a positive view of the US. This is an increase of 8% compared to the same survey last year.
The lowest percentage was recorded in 2014, with only 34% of respondents in Greece having a positive view of the US.
The survey included a number of questions on social, political, and economic aspects of America’s image – things that are often considered a part of US “soft power.”
According to the findings, anti-Americanism is gradually declining for another reason, as younger Greeks, in the 18-39 age group, value American entertainment (movies, music, TV) more than those over 40, at 84% vs 62%.