Nick Larigakis

The United States recognizes the Eastern Mediterranean as an important strategic region, and is committed to remain engaged in the region to ensure it remains peaceful and prosperous, a State Department official said in a letter on Monday.

American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis has written to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo out of concern the international community will lose its focus on "Turkey's propensity to cause instability in the region" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The significance of Greece and Cyprus in the new strategy of the US in the southeastern Mediterranean was highlighted at a discussion organized by the American-Hellenic Institute (AHI) in Washingtion. 

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has commended US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his commitment to the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue ahead of his visit to Athens later this week.

The significant role played by the Greek diaspora in the US was highlighted on Monday during a meeting in Athens between Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis and American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis.

The meeting between the two officials, who also discussed regional security and Turkey's recent behavior, comes at a time of deepening Greek-US ties.

American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis will take part in the upcoming international conference titled "New Realities in the Eastern Mediterranean" in Jerusalem on December 11.

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has announced the appointment of retired Rear Admiral Vasileios Kyriazis as vice president of the organization's Athens chapter.

"We are truly fortunate to have Rear Admiral Kyriazis serve the AHI-Athens chapter," AHI President Nick Larigakis said in a statement.

The results of Tuesday's meeting between the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford and Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis were hailed on Wednesday by the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) as a reaffirmation of its policy positions on US-Greek defense cooperation.

The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has welcomed a 47.85 million dollar investment for improvements to the facilities at the US naval base at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, describing it as a "further indication of increased defense cooperation between the United States and Greece."

The US prohibition on sales of defense and military technology to Cyprus is "unlawful" and can be removed without the need for legislation, a Greek American lobby group has said.