Athens on Monday denied a media report alleging that the US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle threatened to bring down the Greek government, according to broadcaster ERT.
“I must say and be clear that there was never any question of a threat to the Greek government, and to be serious, such a thing would never be tolerated,” Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told a news breifing.
He pointed out that Greece and the US had a relationship that is much “closer and more stable.”
“It is a deep-rooted strategic relationship that is linked to mutual respect and shared values,” he said.
Marinakis reaffirmed that Athens was also a “strategic partner” of the US in terms of energy sector, underlining that the government was working to upgrade its energy and geopolitical situation for its national interest.
“There is no political blackmail for American LNG,” he further said.
Marinakis’ remarks came in response to a Wall Street Journal article referring to Guilfoyle’s efforts to promote American LNG in the wider Balkan region.
The article also alleged that Guilfoyle threatened Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou with bringing down the government, while referring to the impending collapse of the Romanian government.
“We can do that to any country we want. We can do that here,” she reportedly said during a dinner in Athens in March.
Papastavrou reportedly responded that the US could not replace the Greek government.
Athens denies media report alleging US envoy threatened Greek government
