International powers eye Greece's ports as trade relations shift

When then-President-elect Donald Trump nominated Kimberly Guilfoyle as the U.S. ambassador to Greece in December 2024, the decision was interpreted as a response to her recent breakup with Donald Trump Jr. However, Guilfoyle, a staunch Trump supporter, has been entrusted with a critical mission: to reduce Chinese influence in the region, particularly through control of Greek ports.

The U.S. is particularly focused on the port of Thessaloniki, strategically positioned to facilitate India's ambitions to create the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) to enhance its trade policies. This initiative aligns with U.S. interests in countering China's reach.

The U.S. has expressed concerns regarding Chinese ownership of the port of Piraeus, Greece's largest port and a major hub in the Mediterranean for both passenger and container traffic. Owned by COSCO Shipping, a state-owned Chinese enterprise, Piraeus has come under scrutiny from the U.S., which closely monitors the company's activities.

Ideally, the U.S. would like Greece to exert pressure on COSCO to relinquish control of Piraeus, although achieving this goal is likely to be challenging. Nonetheless, the Greek government appears willing to align with U.S. interests, having recently rejected a Chinese request for its warships to dock in Greek ports.

In Thessaloniki, France's CMA group has expressed interest in acquiring a significant share of majority owner Ivan Savvidis' holdings; however, the proposed asking price has been considered excessive. Meanwhile, India is looking to invest in the port of Alexandroupoli as part of its IMEC project, which would provide an alternative route that bypasses Turkey, a country allied with Pakistan.

Greece is likely to view India's interest in Alexandroupoli favorably, especially as U.S. interest in utilizing the port for military logistics in Eastern Europe has waned. The IMEC initiative has been a central topic during meetings between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Athens and New Delhi.

France is seen as a potential ally with Greece in promoting IMEC through the port of Marseille, while Italy is competing for India's attention by offering three southern ports as alternatives. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, Guilfoyle's appointment may play a significant role in shaping U.S.-Greek relations and countering Chinese influence in the region.

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