Elizabeth Neumann

The Greek government has high hopes for the outcome of a much-vaunted US-Greece Strategic Dialogue which is to take place in Washington on Thursday between senior Greek and American officials, focusing on regional defense, security and energy. 

Washington's support for ExxonMobil's drilling operations in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone was highlighted Thursday by a visit by Kathleen Doherty, the US ambassador in Nicosia, to Block 10, where the Stena IceMAX drillship is stationed.

Concluding a four-day visit to Greece, the US Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy Elizabeth Neumann said her talks would provide an "important basis" for next month's US-Greece Strategic Dialogue. 

The Strategic Dialogue between Greece and the United States, scheduled to take place in Washington on December 13, was at the center of talks between Alternate Foreign Minister George Katrougalos and US Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy Elizabeth Neumann, according to a report by the state-run Athens-Macedonian news agency.