AHI President Participates in Prestigious Delphi Economic Forum Panel
No. 30
DELPHI - American Hellenic Institute President Nick Larigakis participated as a panelist at the esteemed Delphi Economic Forum in Athens, Greece, on April 11, 2025.
President Larigakis joined a distinguished group of panelists, including General Secretary for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy Maira Myrogianni, Rhode Island State Senator Lou Raptakis, Christos Marafatsos, principal, Marafatsos Companies; and Afroditi Xydi, executive director, Deon Policy Institute. Pavlos Efthymiou, director general, Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association, moderated the session, titled, “Strategy for the Future of the Global Greek Diaspora.”
In his remarks, Larigakis outlined three proposals aimed at strengthening Greece’s connection with the Greek American community, now well into its fourth-plus generation:
1. A Call for Strategic Dialogue: Recognizing that the global Greek diaspora is diverse, Larigakis proposed that a structured and ongoing dialogue be established between the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and key Greek American organizations to assess needs and develop results-oriented strategies. He emphasized that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is no longer effective.
2. Support for Modern Greek Studies: Larigakis underscored the need to invest in Modern Greek Studies programs in partnership with local Greek American communities and prominent U.S. universities. These efforts should be strategically distributed nationwide to maximize impact.
3. Broadening the Scope of Greek Diplomatic Visits: Larigakis encouraged Greek officials visiting the U.S. to expand their itineraries beyond traditional hubs like Washington, D.C., and New York. He recommended visits to non-traditional cities represented by influential congressional leaders, with engagements including university lectures, media interviews, and meetings with local Greek American communities.
“I strongly believe that these initiatives are essential if we are to raise much-needed awareness of the important role Greece plays in advancing U.S. and NATO geostrategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Larigakis said. “Thank you to the Forum’s organizers for the opportunity to participate and present my ideas and to my fellow panelists for their insights and perspectives.”
Interaction with High Level Greek Officials
While at the Delphi Economic Forum, President Larigakis also held brief exchanges on the sidelines with high-level Greek government officials, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, and Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias.
During the exchanges, Larigakis raised the recently introduced AHI-sponsored legislation to enhance counterterrorism and maritime security within the “3+1” framework – United States, Greece, Republic of Cyprus, and Israel.
The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is a non-profit policy center and think tank founded in 1974 that promotes the interests of the United States in foreign affairs involving Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Southern Europe.
For additional information, please contact us at (202) 785-8430 or pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.