The U.S. ambassador to Athens, Ms. Kimberly Guilfoyle, made a mistake: she revealed that her main mission in Greece is to block the penetration of Russian and Chinese interests, which means that the presence of China’s COSCO in Piraeus is being targeted, and that it “may be sold”—in other words, removed.
By Kostas Kolmer
In politics, many things happen but are not said—just as the main reason Greece remains in NATO is to curb Turkey’s hegemonic posture.
In diplomacy, however, many things do not happen as they are said. This is the case with the Chinese investment that turned Piraeus into the second-largest port in the Mediterranean.
COSCO’s installation came after an international tender in which it made the highest bid. It was based on a law passed by Parliament and freed Piraeus from many chronic problems, such as the exploitation of the country’s main port by labor-union bosses to the detriment of the national economy.
Today, customs clearance in Ikonio for a container takes at most 48 hours; previously, it required a week or more. That smuggling of substances or luxury used cars still occurs concerns the shippers and not the carrier—who must, however, be closely monitored by Greek authorities.
This is not a reason it should leave. First, because “agreements must be kept” according to Roman law (Pacta sunt servanda). Second, because Greece is an independent and sovereign country.
Here, some smirk, remembering the era of the Skiadika (**), but much water has flowed under the bridge of our national independence since then. In the future, Greece may become an independent country—if politicians want it.
The Americans, who in 2005 snubbed Greece for investments, regained interest in its geopolitical added value due to rising anti-Americanism in Turkey. About 400 stremmata (≈100 acres) in Elefsina await the creation of an “American” port, if Piraeus is “Chinese”—which it is not: “Neither philhellenic nor Greek-loving, but Greek,” as the poet Philip Sherrard would say.
Greece is “a small country, but not for great dishonors” (Ioannis Metaxas, 1940, on aligning with the naval powers).
It needs America for protection from the Huns (:Germans), but also Russia for historical and religious reasons, and China for economic reasons.
It is a historically ignorant mistake by Kyriakos Mitsotakis to have declared “war” on Putin, but this can be corrected without creating another enemy—China.
The Greek merchant fleet, the largest in the world (the island of Oinousses alone manages more oceangoing vessels than Turkey), sails freely on all seas and oceans, but ships need ports; without them, they cannot secure cargo. Let us not make the mistake of limiting the customer availability of Greek ocean shipping.
COSCO needs us so it does not move to Trieste, just as America needs us so that Turkey does not receive the F-35s—which Ms. Kimberly did not rule out in her first TV interview on ANT1.
Pacta sunt servanda.
** The British fleet blockaded Piraeus in 1864 to dethrone King Otto, considered pro-Russian during the Crimean War.
A date correction on that British blockade during the Crimean War: It was in 1854, not 1864.
Your error is understandable, since Britain did, after all, blockade Greece a number of times. My Yiaya suffered in Britain’s 1916-1917 blockade.
No – the British blockaded Pireaus twice… The first time during the Crimean War and the secon time in 1864 to force out King Otto who had taken a pro-Russian position… As you can see, history repeats itself, or, if you do not know history you cannot study geopolitics.
King Otto’s reign ended in 1862 and he then returned to Germany, in a British ship.
But I would not be surprised if Britain blockaded Greece in 1864 over SOMETHING. (It was not over the Dom Pacifico matter, as that blockade was in 1850.)
Only naive people would not have grasped thed meaning of Guilfoil’s posting to Greece as an ambassador. We all know how the US and China, are locked in battle for global supremacy. Panama was forced to oust the Chinese ports in the entrancer and exit of the Panama canal.
Piraeus is further away and not as vital as the Panama canal, however, it has an important role in accessing the wealthy European market. For China it is the litteral door to Europe. The Suez Canal provides quick access to Greece and her roadways nd rail, for the movement of goods.
As much as we, Greeks wish that Greece hadn’t sold thje majority of the rights of the Piraeus port to a foreign power, either America or China, we have to admit that the previous situation was untenable. The communist labor unions were striking more than actually working. How can a ship be unloaded if there’s a strike? Plus various acts of sabotage by its own workers. The port was suffering the same fate of masny Greek industries, such as Scaramangas ship yard, Olympic Airways and virtually any industry controlled by the government. Compare the Piraeus port of today, where it prtovides thousands of jobs. Compare Aegean and Sky Express to the Olympic of old. Both of those airlines earn accolades from travelers, as top airlines in Eureope.
In addition, COSCO has a 5-yr contract on Pireaus. Tis will not break easily…
The reality is that the Greek shiponwers have a de facto VETO on Pireaus. I remind all of you that the now prominent leader of the shiponwers, Thanassis Martinos at age 18 (then he owned one 40-yr old ship) went to China in 1968 and mage a deal five years before Kissinger arrived to meet secretly with Deng Xiao Ping!!! Today he owns along with his two brothers a fleet od 260 modern ships, many LNG ships and tankers among them… The Greek shiponwers carry Texas LNG to Europe at the same time as the carry Chinese products and Russian oil. And they build their ships mostly in China! Dos this tell you anything? The shipowners are the true foreign ministers of Greece m- rightfully so. Not the puppets at the Foreign ministry of Academias Street!!
Economic & Political Warfare against Russia China or anybody else that threatens the Donald Trump Criminal enterprise which has been the foundation of the ruling parties of America layed out by Jewish Zionist Paul wolfowitze and Madeleign Albright of the state department representing the Blue print of the entire defen;se plabs of America which are to crush to maintain American superiority over the world all emerging or growig economic , technlogical or financial power of Russia, China and other who threaten the Economic and financial superiority of America ! In other word .. all these endless war are a result of the Wolfowitz doctrine which is the same for Israel .. to destroy all countries that threaten the economic and technilogical superiorit of America .. and it explains the criminal war in the Ukraine to undermine Russia , and the war planned \on China ,and Iran etc etc . That is it in a Nutshell! What a society which remains silent to their own Suicide
• “Senator Lindsey Graham admitted tariffs were desigd to punish every country trading with Russia—an undeclared act of economic warfare that drove inflation apond energy costs for American families.”
• “The Wolfowitz Doctrine openly declared U.S. policy to prevent rivals like Russia, China, Germany, and Japan from rising—laying the foundation for perpetual sanctions and coercion.”