European tour itinerary

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will embark on a multi-nation European diplomatic tour to Iceland, Greece, and Portugal between 5 October and 8 October 2026, according to an official announcement from the US Department of State. The travel schedule begins in Reykjavik, where Rubio will meet with Icelandic government officials to deliberate on economic partnerships and bilateral security cooperation. After completing his initial engagements in Iceland, the American delegation will proceed to Greece for bilateral talks across defence, energy, and regional security domains. The European journey will conclude in Lisbon, where Rubio will hold formal meetings with Portuguese officials focused on advancing bilateral defence ties, economic investment, and technological cooperation.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Reykjavik, Iceland, Athens, Greece, and Lisbon, Portugal, from October 5 to 8, 2026.”

Sixth Strategic Dialogue in Athens

Rubio will arrive in Athens on 6 October to lead the United States delegation at the sixth session of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, a bilateral framework originally established in December 2018. Official negotiations between the delegations will take place on 7 October, bringing together American delegates and senior Greek officials. During his stay in the Greek capital, Rubio will hold direct bilateral meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis before departing on 8 October. Discussions will focus on military cooperation, defence equipment programs, and the operational facilities provided to American armed forces under the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement (MDCA), continuing support arrangements previously utilised during conflicts in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.

Regional energy initiatives and maritime plans

Energy infrastructure and regional supply routes form a primary focus on the Athens agenda, where Washington seeks to expand exports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) into southeastern Europe. The bilateral talks will address regional energy connectivity projects, including the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) electricity link intended to connect the power grids of Greece and Cyprus. While French companies Meridiam and Nexans serve as the main industrial and investment partners in the cable venture, United States policy promotes energy security solutions through expanded deliveries of US LNG cargoes. The ministerial visit takes place as Greek authorities prepare several maritime initiatives, including the resumption of bathymetric surveys for the undersea electrical cable and deliberations over extending territorial waters to 12 nautical miles south of Crete.

Broader security files and diplomatic ties

Beyond bilateral defence and energy files, the Athens meetings will cover security conditions across eastern Europe and the Middle East, specifically the war in Ukraine, maritime shipping safety in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, and hostilities in Gaza. The Greek and American delegations will also examine geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and ongoing dialogue between Greece and Turkey. The visit serves as visible support for the US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, following coverage in The Wall Street Journal regarding her diplomatic tenure. Greek diplomatic planning also anticipates a potential follow-up visit to Athens by US Vice President JD Vance in early 2027 to build upon the Strategic Dialogue outcomes.