US Ambassador’s Statement on Greek Independence Day
On behalf of the U.S. Mission in Greece, I’m delighted to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Greek independence and offer my warmest wishes to Greece and the Greek people. The United States joins Greeks around the world to celebrate the birth of the modern Greek state and the 200-year friendship between our countries.
I was honored to represent President Biden at the commemorative parade this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed the colorful display of traditional costumes from the Greek Revolution to WWII. Watching the American F-16s fly over the city of Athens with their Greek counterparts, I reflected on the extraordinary bond between our peoples and the unique link between the Greek and American revolutions, both inspired by an unshakeable belief in demokratía.
At a moment when our strategic interests have converged and President Biden has stated his personal commitment to take our relationship to the next level, I was truly honored just the other day to welcome Prime Minister Mitsotakis and his national security team aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower at Souda Bay, the crown jewel of our defense cooperation.
For two centuries, our countries have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold our democratic values. A cornerstone of our relationship has been the support and friendship we have provided each other over the years. Today, the U.S.-Greece relationship is stronger than ever as our countries work closely to promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity. The sky’s the limit for what we can accomplish together, and Greece’s bicentennial is an opportunity to build on the tremendous progress we’ve made in recent years to strengthen our alliance.
My own exploration of Greece’s bicentennial themes has taught me that philhellenes not only love and respect Greece, but are committed to the values of freedom, equal opportunity, and equal justice before the law that generations of our citizens have pledged to uphold and defend. That’s why I’m proud to count myself among the distinguished ranks of American philhellenes who have long cherished the cry, Zito i Ellada! Zito i Ameriki! Efharisto poli.
