AHI President Shares Perspectives at Delphi Economic Forum Dinner on U.S.–Greece Relations
No. 7
WASHINGTON, DC — American Hellenic Institute President Nick Larigakis received an invitation to attend an intimate working dinner held February 2, 2026, in conjunction with the Delphi Economic Forum Washington, D.C., focused on the theme “Soft Power: How Trade Relations, Investment Opportunities, and Defense Co-production Are Enhancing the Bilateral Relationship.”
The working dinner convened senior government officials, policy experts, and business leaders to examine the topic of discussion.
Participants included:
Thanos Dokos, secretary general for national security and national security advisor to the prime minister of Greece
Maira Myrogianni, secretary general for Greeks abroad and public diplomacy, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Aristidis Kourkoumelis, assistant secretary for trade and economic security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
John Saracakis, president, American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
Nik Nanos, chief data scientist, Nanos Research Corporation, and chancellor, Carleton University
Charles Ries, senior fellow, RAND, and former U.S. ambassador to Greece
Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, vice president and CEO, Skaramangas Shipyards
Fanis Papathanasiou, senior diplomatic correspondent for the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), chaired the discussion.
During the working dinner, Papathanasiou invited Larigakis to offer comments, despite not being part of the formal panel. Larigakis highlighted Greece’s significant soft-power assets, noting that its most important asset—the commercial maritime shipping sector—transports approximately 17 percent of global trade and represents a critical strategic tool for projecting Greece’s influence internationally.
Larigakis emphasized the importance of expanding U.S. foreign direct investment in Greece, observing that American investment levels have historically been low relative to the strength of the bilateral relationship. He cited the need to revisit the U.S.–Greece tax treaty, which has not been reviewed since the 1950s, and encouraged further exploration of mechanisms to strengthen investment ties, while recognizing Greece’s membership in the European Union.
Additional remarks focused on expanding academic cooperation through student exchange programs between U.S. and Greek universities, as well as increasing U.S. tourism to Greece.
Larigakis noted that while Greece welcomes approximately 35 million tourists annually, the roughly one million visitors from the United States represents significant untapped potential, particularly given the economic impact of American travelers.
On security issues, Larigakis underscored Greece’s role as a steadfast and strategically vital U.S. ally, noting that its strong and capable armed forces contribute directly to peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and help advance U.S. geostrategic interests. While not a global superpower, he emphasized that Greece functions as a stabilizing “mini-superpower” within the Balkans, citing its military readiness and political and economic stability. Larigakis stressed that U.S. policy should continue to assess the U.S.–Greece bilateral relationship on its own merits and not through the prism of Turkey. He further noted that any discussion of Greece and Turkey must include Cyprus, emphasizing the enduring ties between Greece and Cyprus and calling attention to the continued occupation of an EU member state by a NATO country.
Larigakis also highlighted the significance of the trilateral partnership among Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, emphasizing the importance of continued and visible support from Washington for this cooperation.
“I appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the discussion and welcomed the thoughtful exchange of perspectives during the working dinner,” Larigakis said. “My sincere thanks to Fanis Papathanasiou for inviting me to share my views.”
