Version 2: Fri, Feb 20, 2026
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Port of Piraeus, Greece.
Excerpts from online publications about a recent “storm in a coffee cup” in Greece about ports and geopolitics:
(A) US Ambassador Interview
U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle presented her credentials to the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tassoulas on November 4.
On Thursday, November 13, barely over a week later, Guilfoyle gave an interview on Antenna TV, in which she expressed opposition to Russian and Chinese influence in Greece. (EKathimerini 2025).
It is unfortunate, but I think there’s ways around it, that something could be worked out, whether you pursue a path of enhancing output in other areas or perhaps that Piraeus could be for sale.
The new US ambassador to Athens said Washington sees Greece as a rising energy hub crucial to countering Russian and Chinese influence, emphasizing that President Donald Trump sent her to deepen strategic cooperation in the region.
“It really is so important to have this energy independence, to push back against Russian and Chinese interests,” she said. “That brings regional stability… that benefits both of our countries,” she added.
“Energy independence equates directly to national security and sovereignty.”
In particular speaking about the Chinese company COSCO’s control of Greece’s main port Piraeus:
Guilfoyle also voiced regret that China’s state-owned shipping group Cosco gained control of Greece’s main port of Piraeus in 2016, suggesting that Beijing’s influence could potentially be balanced by increased American investment in other infrastructure projects.
“I think it’s very important… to have American infrastructure here to help support the region. To perhaps, in fact, enhance output from other ports and areas to balance against the Chinese influence with the port of Piraeus,” the ambassador said, noting that the port came under Cosco’s control during a period of economic turmoil when Greece lacked stability.
“It is unfortunate, but I think there’s ways around it, that something could be worked out, whether you pursue a path of enhancing output in other areas or perhaps that Piraeus could be for sale”, she said.
By
U. S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece -
https://gr.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/188/2025/10/Kimberly-Guilfoyle-Official-Portrait.jpg,
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Kimberly Guilfoyle - Wikimedia.
(B) MFA Response
The response of the Greek MFA came on November 18 in a press conference (MFA 2025). Replies and Google translation follow:
… το λιμάνι του Πειραιά, το 67% του λιμένος, παραχωρήθηκε στους Κινέζους κατά τη διάρκεια της δημοσιονομικής κρίσης στην Ελλάδα και ήταν οι μόνοι, οι οποίοι κατέθεσαν προσφορά.
The port of Piraeus, 67% of the port, was awarded to the Chinese during the financial crisis in Greece and they were the only ones who submitted an offer. …Η Ελλάδα σέβεται τις συμφωνίες που έχουν συναφθεί στο παρελθόν, οπότε δεν νομίζω ότι έχω κάτι περισσότερο να πω ως προς αυτό.
Greece respects the agreements that have been concluded in the past, so I don’t think I have anything more to say on this.
Note it took five whole days to respond. Perhaps they were stunned by her lack of tact.
(C) The Greek-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Event
The Greek-Chinese Chamber of Commerce was created in 1995. On November 20, 2025, they celebrated their 30th anniversary by organizing the “1995–2025: Bridging Cultures and Building Futures in Sino-Hellenic Business Relations” event (Portnet 2025).
Among the speakers were Chinese Ambassador Fang Qiu and Kostas Karamanlis, former Prime Minister of Greece, whose government signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with China in 2006 (Parapolitika 2025a). Mr Karamanlis was honored during the event.
As the event came a week after the US Ambassador interview it is not surprising there were responses to her statements. The Chamber event was not a secret, the Embassy knew it too and so the interview was clearly a pre-emptive strike.
Some of the points made by Kostas Karamanlis. Full speech in (Parapolitika 2025a) and (Maritimes 2025):
Our government had a multidimensional approach in its foreign policy, with an emphasis on economic diplomacy and the aim of making Greece a strategic hub for the wider region.
An indirect criticism of the foreign policy of the current goverment.
Already in 2008, the official visit to Greece by President Hu Jintao established this cooperation with the signing of an agreement for COSCO to undertake operation and management of two container terminal stations at the port of Piraeus. The investment was one of the largest ever made in Greece. Today, the port of Piraeus is the 8th largest in the world, 3rd in Europe and the largest in the Mediterranean, according to recent measurements.
Can’t argue with these numbers.
It should be noted that, during that period, no other serious international player had expressed interest in the port of Piraeus. The fact that today there is intense activity towards creating competitive port infrastructure is the best proof of the success of that political choice.
It is not COSCO’s fault that no US companies wanted to risk investing in Greece. COSCO took a chance and it payed off, that’s capitalism for you!
Fang Qiu, Chinese Ambassador to Greece, pointed out (Portnet 2025):
Unlike certain countries that constantly seek to extend their sphere of influence, China’s cooperation with all countries including Greece involves no geopolitical maneuvering; it is neither directed at nor influenced by any third party. It is unfortunate that the COSCO–Piraeus partnership, an exemplary model of China-Greece cooperation has recently faced unwarranted criticism from a diplomat stationed in Greece, who talks about “selling the Port of Piraeus” and “balancing Chinese influence”. These remarks seek to politicize what is fundamentally a commercial cooperation project, mischaracterizing mutually beneficial port development as a security concern. Such narratives reflect a hegemonic mindset that views the Port of Piraeus not as an engine of Greek prosperity, but as an arena for geopolitical rivalry.
And he continued in the geopolitical theme:
Sadly, those who offered no assistance during Greece’s most challenging times now claim to advocate for its best interests. They reflect a zero-sum mentality that is outdated, harmful, and fundamentally at odds with the global trend toward cooperation and mutual benefit. More importantly, they underestimate Greece’s determination to pursue an independent development path, one that is defined by the Greek people themselves.
And then he took it home with Plato:
China and Greece, as ancient civilizations, share a profound understanding of justice. As we say in China, “A just cause should be pursued for the common good.” Were Plato here today, he would also firmly reject the notion that “might makes right”, insisting instead that true justice is shaped by reason and virtue, not dictated by power. Indeed, power politics is the greatest injustice: when certain countries use their military and economic superiority to impose their will, forcing others into subordinate, disadvantaged positions, they utterly pervert Plato’s vision of justice.
And that is what diplomacy is all about folks!
(D) National Security Strategy (2025)
On December 5, 2025, the White House released the 2025 United States (US) National Security Strategy (NSS 2025). There are two mentions of ‘ports’ – emphasis added. The most relevant is on page 17:
The United States must be preeminent in the Western Hemisphere as a condition of our security and prosperity—a condition that allows us to assert ourselves confidently where and when we need to in the region. The terms of our alliances, and the terms upon which we provide any kind of aid, must be contingent on winding down adversarial outside influence—from control of military installations, ports, and key infrastructure to the purchase of strategic assets broadly defined.
The quote is about the Western Hemisphere but it captures the attitude in the US Ambassador’s interview.
Will it succeed? I do not think so, it is too late in history for that, too many mistakes and baggage by the Americans to turn things around. But they do not want to go down without a fight, expect trouble.
(E) Notes and Additional Information
(EKathimerini 2025) New US ambassador says Greece key to countering Russian and Chinese influence https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1286802/new-us-ambassador-says-greece-key-to-countering-russian-and-chinese-influence/ E-Kathimerini - Nov 14 - Archive https://archive.ph/ROgnN
(Kine 2025) Trump enlists 5 allies to counter China on rare earths and tech: A new coalition unites Singapore, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Israel https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/11/trump-enlists-5-allies-to-counter-china-on-rare-earths-and-tech-00688068 By Phelim Kine- Politico - Dec 11, 2025 - Archive https://archive.ph/46d9l
It’s an industrial policy for an economic security coalition and it’s a game changer because there is no grouping today where we can get together to talk about the AI economy and how we compete with China in AI,” Helberg said. “By aligning our economic security approaches, we can start to have cohesion to basically block China’s Belt and Road Initiative — which is really designed to magnify its export-led model — by denying China the ability to buy ports, major highways, transportation and logistics corridors”.
(Maritimes 2025) Kostas Karamanlis: In 2006 we signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which put Greek-Chinese relations on a new footing and gave them a truly strategic character https://maritimes.gr/en/kostas-karamanlis-in-2006-we-signed-the-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-which-put-greek-chinese-relations-on-a-new-footing-and-gave-them-a-truly-strategic-character/ Maritimes - November 21, 2025 - Archive <>
(Mayer 2020) The Secret History of Kimberly Guilfoyle’s Departure from Fox - By Jane Mayer - The New Yorker - October 1, 2020 - Archive https://archive.ph/rA7u3
(MFA 2025) Ενημέρωση Διπλωματικών Συντακτών από την Εκπρόσωπο του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών, Λάνα Ζωχιού (18.11.2025) https://www.mfa.gr/enimerosi-diplomatikon-syntakton-apo-tin-ekprosopo-tou-ypourgeiou-exoterikon-lana-zochiou-18-11-2025/ - Archive https://archive.ph/ykcYj
(NSS 2025) National Security Strategy 2025 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf PDF 33 pages - December 5, 2025
(Parapolitika 2025a) Karamanlis: Greece-China relations produce mutual benefitsFormer PM Karamanlis defends Greece-China cooperation, emphasizing Piraeus port’s success amid US pressure to expel COSCO from strategic Greek infrastructure. https://en.parapolitika.gr/politics/99293/karamanlis-greece-china-relations-produce-mutual-benefits/ Parapolitika - 20 November, 2025 - Archive https://archive.ph/a5UXc
(Parapolitika 2025b) Europe’s Growing Concerns Over Chinese Investments in Greece: Former Greek PM Kostas Karamanlis receives Chinese award amid rising EU concerns over Beijing’s strategic investments in European ports and infrastructure https://en.parapolitika.gr/economy/98723/europes-growing-concerns-over-chinese-investments-in-greece/ - Archive https://archive.ph/WgQTC
The last paragraph is proxy criticism of Karamanlis:
In this environment of questioning Chinese influence and conflicting interests – Chinese versus Western – what exactly does the nephew of the Nation’s Founder Constantine Karamanlis seek to achieve with his presence and acceptance of this award?
(Portnet 2025) 30th anniversary of the Chinese-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce: Speech by the Chinese Ambassador to Greece, Fang Qiu https://portnet.gr/30th-anniversary-of-the-chinese-hellenic-chamber-of-commerce-speech-by-the-chinese-ambassador-to-greece-fang-qiu/ Portnet - 21 November 2025 - Archive https://archive.ph/cJKno
(Stamouli 2025) Trump envoy warns Greece that US wants China out of Piraeus port https://www.politico.eu/article/america-wants-china-out-of-greece-piraeus-port-us-ambassador-kimberly-guilfoyle-says/ By Nektaria Stamouli - Politico - Nov 14, 2025 - Archive https://archive.ph/oEUgh
The Trump administration has a new European target in its crosshairs: China’s state ownership of Piraeus port in Greece.
“It is unfortunate, but I think there’s ways around it, that something could be worked out, whether you pursue a path of enhancing output in other areas or perhaps that Piraeus could be for sale,” the U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, said in an interview with local outlet Antenna TV.
China invested heavily in debt-ridden Greece during the country’s lengthy economic crisis, with the goal of making it a hub for Chinese exports. Athens actively courted Beijing as companies from other Western countries turned away from Greece, spooked by its financial woes and infamous bureaucracy.
Started: Tue, Feb 3, 2026s
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