The war in Ukraine pushed the European Union to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas and placed the United States at the center of Europe’s energy security. Washington seeks to stabilize the European market, limit Moscow’s influence, and strengthen its position on the southeastern flank of Europe. Within this strategic environment, Greece has gained particular importance as an entry corridor for American liquefied natural gas. Its geographic position in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, combined with recent investments in infrastructure and energy interconnections, provides the United States with a useful lever for promoting a more diversified and resilient European energy network.
Greece has invested in infrastructure that increases Europe’s capacity to receive liquefied natural gas.
In this context, the recent agreement between the Greek government and ExxonMobil on natural gas exploration and cooperation in liquefied natural gas projects confirms the stable foundation of the U.S.-Greece energy relationship. The agreement is a sign of confidence in Greece and creates conditions for long-term cooperation that align with the U.S. strategy to reduce Russian influence in Europe’s energy sector. At the same time, the potential discovery of a significant offshore deposit in the Ionian Sea would strengthen Greece’s position on Europe’s energy map, reduce Europe’s need for imported natural gas, and support Greece’s role as a hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Building on this momentum, Greece has invested in infrastructure that increases Europe’s capacity to receive liquefied natural gas. The terminal at Revithoussa expanded its storage and regasification capability, while the floating unit in Alexandroupolis now channels natural gas not only to Greece, but also to Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine to the east, as well as Hungary and Slovakia to the west. These developments facilitate the entry of American liquefied natural gas into the European system and reduce southeastern Europe’s dependence on Russian pipelines.
Greece’s position also enables the movement of natural gas toward states that had high levels of dependence on Russia. The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector delivers natural gas from non-Russian sources to the Bulgarian market, while upgrades toward Serbia and North Macedonia increase available capacity. Greece can further redirect natural gas toward Moldova and Ukraine when reverse-flow mechanisms allow it. Taken together, these routes offer several states new supply options that did not exist before 2022.
In parallel with these pipeline links, Greece strengthens its role through partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean. It participates in projects with Cyprus and Israel related to offshore exploration and future electricity interconnections. Greece also works with Egypt on the planned electricity link that will transfer power from Egypt to Europe via Greece. At the same time, Athens attracts investment from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen projects. These partnerships expand Greece’s ability to function as a link between the Mediterranean and Europe and complement its role in supporting diversified energy routes.
Athens continues to strengthen its position in Europe’s energy network through infrastructure, interconnections, and partnerships.
For the United States, these developments have concrete strategic value. They reduce Russia’s ability to influence European states through natural gas supply, reinforce the security of the southeastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and create alternative energy routes that do not depend on Turkey. They also provide the Western Balkans and Ukraine with access to more stable natural gas volumes. All of these outcomes align with the American objective of strengthening eastern Europe’s resilience to external pressure.
At the same time, several factors limit the pace of this evolution. Liquefied natural gas prices fluctuate depending on global demand, and pipelines toward central Europe have restricted capacity. Tensions in Greek-Turkish relations affect certain projects, while the regulatory environment of the European Union continues to shift as the energy transition progresses. These considerations shape how quickly Greece can expand its role.
Despite these constraints, Athens continues to strengthen its position in Europe’s energy network through infrastructure, interconnections, and partnerships that advance at a steady pace. This trajectory supports key U.S. goals: It creates a reliable channel for transporting liquefied natural gas to Europe, restricts the space for Russian influence in a sensitive region, and reduces Europe’s dependence on routes that transit Turkey. Access for the Balkans and Ukraine to alternative natural gas sources further supports the broader American effort to promote stability on Europe’s eastern flank. As the continent’s energy landscape evolves, Greece functions as an important pillar for achieving a more secure and diversified energy architecture, directly connected to the interests of U.S. foreign policy.
