Op-Eds from Mike

U.S. Representatives Nicole Malliotakis and Mike Lawler shared their thoughts on Greece-U.S. relations and stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean. Their op-ed article follows:

We recently joined a group of colleagues in visiting Greece to tour our American Naval Base at Souda Bay and meet with U.S. and Greek military and other government officials. It gave us a firsthand look at how deeply interconnected American security and prosperity are with stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Our alliance with Greece spans over two centuries, beginning with America’s support for Greece’s 1821 War of Independence—a struggle deeply resonant with our own fight for liberty. This shared commitment to democracy has endured through two World Wars, the Cold War, and Greece’s 1952 entry into NATO. Today, more than 1.4 million Greek Americans— many residing in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Rockland, and Westchester—serve as living bridges between our two democracies, strengthening cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties. Greece now exceeds NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target, ranking among the alliance’s top contributors. In Athens, we met with leaders who highlighted Greece’s active participation in joint military exercises like Iniochos and Defender Europe, underscoring Greece’s essential role in regional security and counterterrorism efforts.

As countries in the Eastern Mediterranean—particularly Greece, Cyprus, and Israel—deepen their ties, they are also faced with challenges posed by malign actors across the region, including state adversaries like Russia and Iran, countries like Turkey whose public comments and actions call into question their motives, as well as non-state groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Military bases and infrastructure in Greece and Cyprus will remain vital to the Trump administration’s strategic planning, offering a cost-effective means to forward-position various military and intelligence assets sustainably. These facilities will play a critical role in building a robust security architecture designed to counter China’s growing influence, contain Iranian aggression, and protect European and NATO interests against diverse threats.

The U.S.-Greece partnership remains a cornerstone of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. The U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on Crete, a critical facility for American and NATO operations, is essential for maritime security and counters threats from adversaries like Russia and Iran. During our recent tour of Souda Bay, we saw firsthand Greece’s unwavering dedication to hosting and maintaining this strategic facility— the only deep-water port in the Mediterranean capable of accommodating America’s largest aircraft carriers. Additionally, Greece leads regional energy security initiatives, including the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which significantly reduces Europe’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.

Building upon our historical alliance and ongoing strategic cooperation, we recently introduced H.R. 2510—the American-Hellenic-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act of 2025— to bolster the critical ‘3+1’ framework among the United States, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. This bill establishes specialized training programs, including CERBERUS at Cyprus’s C.Y.C.L.O.P.S. center and TRIREME at Souda Bay, designed to improve interoperability and preparedness among our nations’ military forces. Additionally, it creates interparliamentary and inter-executive groups to align security priorities, enhances intelligence sharing capabilities, and expands International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs. Crucially, by removing outdated restrictions on defense cooperation with Cyprus, H.R. 2510 strengthens regional security coordination, ensuring a unified and effective response to contemporary maritime and terrorism-related threats.

In an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape, the strategic partnership between the United States and Greece, reinforced by the robust ‘3+1’ framework, is critical for confronting today’s pressing threats and building a stable future. Passing H.R. 2510 demonstrates America’s unwavering commitment to democracy, strengthens our collective defenses against aggression, and ensures enduring security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean. We urge our colleagues to support this vital legislation—not only to honor a historic alliance, but also to safeguard our mutual interests and values for generations to come.

U.S. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis represents New York’s 11th Congressional District which encompasses Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn.

U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District which includes all of Rockland County and Putnam County, as well as most of Northern Westchester County, and portions of southern Dutchess County.