John Chachas: An America First Partnership Must Also Mean a Stronger Greece

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent address in Athens was a powerful reminder that the relationship between Greece and the United States is rooted in something deeper than military cooperation, commercial agreements, or diplomatic convenience. It is rooted in a shared civilizational inheritance and a belief that free nations must possess both the ambition and the strength to shape their own destinies.

Speaking near the Acropolis, Secretary Rubio invoked the ancient Greek concept of thumos—the passion, courage, pride, and determination that animate great civilizations. His argument was that nations which lose these qualities eventually lose their prosperity, sovereignty, and ability to defend themselves.

It was an important message, and one with particular relevance to the future of American relations with Greece.

I approach this relationship as an American whose heritage is deeply rooted in Greece. My father's family came from northern Greece; my mother's from the region surrounding Athens. I return to Greece every year, not simply as a visitor drawn to its extraordinary history and beauty, but as someone who feels a personal connection to its people and future.

I am American by birth, education, and conviction. But my family's roots are in Hellas, and I have long believed that the relationship between these two countries represents an extraordinary, and still underdeveloped, opportunity.

An America First foreign policy should recognize a fundamental principle: a stronger, more prosperous Greece is not merely good for Greece. It is decidedly in America's national interest.

Greece occupies one of the world's most strategically consequential geographic positions, at the intersection of Europe, the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It is an important NATO ally, a growing energy gateway, and a partner in regional security.

But the relationship should aspire to something more consequential than defense procurement and energy transactions. America should help create the conditions in which Greece becomes a more dynamic economy, a center of innovation, and a country where talented young people see compelling opportunities to build their futures.

The greatest opportunity may lie in an industry that has defined Greek economic life for thousands of years: maritime commerce.

From antiquity through the modern era, Greeks have been among the world's most accomplished seafarers, merchants, and shipowners. Today, Greek-owned vessels account for approximately one-fifth of global merchant shipping capacity. Athens and Piraeus remain central to the commercial, financial, and operational networks through which this extraordinary fleet participates in international trade.

Yet there is a striking disconnect between Greece's dominance in shipping and the extent of its domestic shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing industries.

Much of the construction of vessels owned by Greek shipping interests takes place in Asia. Greece possesses an enormous commercial advantage in maritime ownership and expertise, but captures only a portion of the industrial employment, technology development, and manufacturing activity associated with that position.

This is an opportunity for a renewed Greek-American industrial partnership.

The United States has its own urgent interest in rebuilding shipbuilding capacity, strengthening maritime supply chains, and reducing dependence on foreign industrial infrastructure. Greece has the shipowners, maritime expertise, strategic geography, and industrial traditions to become an important partner in that effort.

American capital, technology, engineering expertise, and commercial partnerships could support the expansion of Greek shipyards, ship repair facilities, maritime equipment manufacturing, and advanced marine technologies.

The objective need not be to compete immediately with Asia in every category of commercial shipbuilding. It should be to identify areas where Greece and America can build competitive industrial capabilities together, including specialized vessels, maintenance, propulsion systems, maritime software, and defense-related shipbuilding.

Such investments would create skilled employment in Greece while strengthening the industrial and security interests of the United States.

A second opportunity lies in diversifying the Greek economy beyond its traditional dependence on tourism and services.

Tourism will remain one of Greece's greatest economic assets. But Greece has the human capital, geographic advantages, and entrepreneurial capacity to develop other industries with lasting economic value.

Technology is an obvious example. American investment, venture capital, university partnerships, and access to international markets could help accelerate the development of Greek businesses in software, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging fields.

Real estate development and urban regeneration offer another example. The Ellinikon project, transforming Athens' former international airport into an ambitious residential, commercial, hospitality, and recreational destination, demonstrates the potential of large-scale private investment to reshape the Athens Riviera and expand the country's international economic appeal.

American experience in real estate finance, hospitality, architecture, infrastructure, and destination development could contribute meaningfully to similar projects.

Healthcare and medical tourism represent another promising opportunity. Greece's climate, hospitality infrastructure, medical professionals, and proximity to European and Middle Eastern markets provide a foundation for specialized healthcare, rehabilitation, wellness, and longevity-related services.

Partnerships with American medical institutions, healthcare investors, and technology companies could help develop internationally competitive facilities and services, creating professional employment while attracting patients and investment from abroad.

These are not simply opportunities for American companies to sell products into Greece. They are opportunities to help build sustainable Greek businesses, develop domestic expertise, and create employment for a new generation.

Education must be central to this effort.

As a former Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American College of Greece, I have seen firsthand both the enormous potential of Greek students and the structural limitations that have constrained their educational choices.

Article 16 of the Greek Constitution has historically restricted private universities and privileged the state university system. Recent reforms permitting certain foreign university branches represent progress, but the broader goal of educational competition, choice, and fair recognition of rigorous academic qualifications remains unfinished.

Greece should welcome excellent educational institutions, whether public, private, Greek, American, or European.

A modern economy cannot afford unnecessary barriers that limit educational opportunity or restrict the development of the skills demanded by competitive industries.

The United States can contribute through university partnerships, research collaborations, scholarships, professional training, and investment in institutions that connect education directly to emerging economic opportunities.

Educational reform is not simply social policy. It is economic policy, and it is also diplomacy of the most durable kind.

Energy and defense cooperation provide the strategic foundation for these broader economic ambitions.

Greece's emergence as a gateway for American liquefied natural gas into Southeastern and Central Europe strengthens European energy security while creating markets for American producers.

Likewise, Greece's geographic position, military infrastructure, and maritime capabilities make it indispensable to security in the Eastern Mediterranean. Continued defense modernization, industrial cooperation, and interoperability can strengthen NATO while supporting American industry.

The objective should be to develop a stronger Greek partner capable of assuming greater responsibility for regional stability and economic security.

Ultimately, the future of this relationship will be determined not only by governments, but by the attitudes and aspirations of younger Greeks.

For all the historical affection between our countries, American policy has not always inspired corresponding goodwill among ordinary Greeks. Memories of American involvement in Greece's political history and disagreements over regional policy have contributed to skepticism toward the United States.

We should acknowledge that history rather than pretend it does not exist.

But the most effective way to build lasting goodwill is not through public relations campaigns or ceremonial celebrations of ancient democracy. It is through visible contributions to the lives and opportunities of Greek citizens.

When American investment creates skilled jobs, when educational partnerships expand opportunity, when Greek entrepreneurs find American capital, and when young Greeks see the United States as a partner in their ambitions, the relationship acquires a foundation that transcends politics.

That is not charity. It is enlightened national self-interest.

Secretary Rubio's invocation of thumoswas a call for nations to rediscover their capacity for ambition, excellence, and national renewal.

Greece, the birthplace of so much of Western civilization, should be encouraged to pursue precisely those qualities in its modern economic life.

America's role should be neither paternalistic nor narrowly transactional. It should recognize that the prosperity, confidence, and strategic independence of a close ally are themselves important American assets.

A stronger Greece means a stronger American position in the Eastern Mediterranean, a more resilient NATO alliance, new opportunities for American enterprise, and another generation of Greeks who see America not as a distant power, but as a partner in their success.

That is a relationship worthy of our shared history—and, more importantly, worthy of our shared future.

John Chachas served for 10 years as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American College of Greece. In addition to his role as Managing Partner of Methuselah Advisors, he is the Chief Executive Officer of INYO Broadcast Holdings and Chairman of Gump's, a San Francisco-based luxury retailer.