Greece’s Syriza government led by prime minister Alexis Tsipras were— like many in Europe— banking on a victory for Hillary Clinton, who in her pre-election statement on Greek matters voiced her support for some form of debt relief for Greece.
With the historic victory of Donald Trump, the government has tried to settle concerns inside the country that much— if anything— will change, with regards to the significant role the United States plays in Greece.
“The significance that the US plays on Greece does not change,” a government source was quoted by local media as saying Wednesday, and reported in Kathimerini.
But one thing that may change— which must be of concern to the Greek government— is the emphasis the United States has placed on debt relief for Greece. In fact, the topic was considered to be one of the main points President Barack Obama was planning to address during a landmark speech in Greece on November 15.
Donald Trump as a candidate didn’t say much about Greece but he did suggest to Fox Business News’ Maria Bartiromo that he wouldn’t be as involved as the Obama Administration was, sending Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on numerous visit to Athens and pressing Greece’s European partners into considering some form of debt relief for the ailing economy.
“Well I would stay back a little bit,” Trump said about getting involved with Greece. “I wouldn’t get too involved. We get too involved with too many other things. I would definitely stay back.”
“Frankly, Putin probably comes in to save the day, if Germany doesn’t,” Trump said, adding that ultimately he believes that Greece “is going to be better shape than people think.”
But not under a Trump Administration, he warned back then. “The United States cannot be in every fight,” Trump concluded in the July 2015 interview.
One wild card in the mix is a Trump foreign policy advisor named George Papadopoulos— whose parents were from Greece— and who may have some influence on the Trump Administration.
Papadopoulos is a 2009 graduate of DePaul University and directs an international energy center at the London Center of International Law Practice.
He has written about the role of Greece, Cyprus and Israel and the importance of a collaboration regarding the natural gas field that was found in the region and has even suggested that the three nations avoid dealing with Turkey at all costs.
In other news from Greece, the Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party hailed the Trump victory as a “victory against illegal immigration” and in favor of ethnically “clean” nations.
“This was a victory for the forces which oppose globalization, are fighting illegal migration and are in favor of clean ethnic states, in favor of self-sufficiency in the national economy,” a spokesman of the party said in a post on YouTube.
4 comments
Yes, a sad a day for the US Greece relationship. The US needs Turkey not Greece, therefore screw Greece and the historical relationship we’ve shared. Trumps party, “the party of ME”, is not about anyone else. Why should we need to hope that one of his Greek heritage advisors will steer him in the right direction. The US should be doing what’s right for its allies without coaxing. Let’s just hope Turkey don’t get the remainder of Cyprus in exchange for casinos.
Tsipras and his Parea are not worth of helping out They are A bunch of Leftis
You are reaching again Greg. A new administration has every right to reassess foreign policy priorities and providing support of an non-reforming country anywhere doesn’t make much sense. Now add into that Tsipras ties to Clinton and it spell “bad investment.” When Greece gets serious about regaining international competitiveness they can talk.
Two simple questions: when was Turkey a real or a reliable ally to the US in World History??? and the other question is: When was Greece a non-ally or unreliable ally to the US in World History????? when you will answer these two questions then think and ask yourselves : why would the things change today on the relations between Greece-US and US-Turkey?? How many Greek-Americans did fight and sacrificed heroically their lives for the US in all wars since the 1700s todate and how many Turkish-Americans did the same??