Thessaloniki fair a symbol of deepening Greek-US relations

The American side appears keen on making the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which starts this weekend, a symbol for a deepening of relations between Greece and the United States.

To that end these past few months there has been a flurry of activity from the State Department bureaucracy aimed at securing the highest possible American presence at the event, where this year the United States is the honored country.

The US participation will be led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who has invested in Greece in the past in a private capacity. The possibility of him being present at the fair was floated last October during Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's visit to Washington. Efforts were also made to secure the attendance of Vice President Mike Pence, though they did not bear fruit. Either way, this year's TIF represents an expectation by both sides of a...