AHI, AHIF Leadership Delegation Engages Senior Greek and U.S. Officials During Athens Visit
From left to right: AHI-Athens Chapter President Retired Vice Admiral Vasileios Kyriazi; AHI Chairman James H. Lagos, Esq.; Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis; AHI President Nick Larigakis; AHI Board Member Maria Wills; and AHIF Chairman Leon Andris
No. 38
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) and American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) conducted a series of high-level meetings in Athens, May 4-7, 2026, with senior Greek government, defense, diplomatic, parliamentary, and U.S. officials to discuss issues impacting regional security, U.S.-Greece relations, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
During the leadership visit, the delegation held meetings with senior representatives of the Hellenic Armed Forces, Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hellenic Parliament, and the U.S. Embassy in Athens. Discussions focused on defense cooperation, diaspora affairs, public diplomacy, bilateral relations, and strategic developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“AHI values maintaining a strong dialogue with leaders and policymakers in Greece at a time of continued strategic importance for the U.S.-Greece Strategic Partnership,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said. “These meetings reflect the depth of cooperation between our nations and the shared commitment to stability, security, and democratic values in the Eastern Mediterranean. We thank all officials who took the time to meet with us.”
The delegation began its visit with meetings focused on Greece’s defense and military leadership, including discussions with General Dimitrios Choupis, chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, regarding regional security developments and defense cooperation. The delegation then visited the Hellenic Army Academy, often referred to as the “Greek West Point,” hosted by Major General Vasileios Lampropoulos, superintendent of the Hellenic Army Academy (Evelpidon).
Additionally, the delegation met with Dr. Thanos Dokos, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Greece, whose office plays a central role in shaping and coordinating Greece’s national security and foreign policy priorities. The same day, they also met with Josh Huck, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Greece, to gain the perspective of America’s diplomatic mission on bilateral relations and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The group engaged senior officials within Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos. Additional meetings included Ambassador Argyro Papoulia, A2 Directorate for Cyprus director; Vasileios Vikas, A4 Directorate for Turkey first counsellor; and Ambassador Loukas Karatsolis of the A7 Directorate for North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Meetings also focused on diaspora issues and public diplomacy, including discussions with Maira Myrogianni, secretary-general for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, and Philippos Fortomas, chairman of the Presidium of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad of the Hellenic Parliament.
Additionally, Archons Leon Andris and Nick Larigakis were invited to a private dinner in honor of His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, who was visiting Athens at the same time.
The itinerary also included a visit to the Presidential Guard “Evzones” Barracks and a breakfast meeting with the recent former Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Ekaterini Nassika.
AHI Chairman James Lagos; AHIF Chairman Leon Andris; AHIF Secretary Maria Wills; AHI Secretary Kostas Alexakis; and Vice Admiral Vasileios Kyriazis (ret.) H.N., president of the AHI-Athens Chapter, joined Larigakis to comprise the delegation.
AHI concluded the visit with its Athens Awards Reception and Dinner at the Hotel Grande Bretagne on May 7.
