The importance of US-Greece cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean was at the centre of a phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Wednesday.According to a State Department statement, Rubio reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral relationship between the US and Greece, highlighting in particular cooperation in defence, energy, law enforcement and technology. He also thanked Greece for its role as a steadfast NATO ally.

Recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have clarified that Turkey remains effectively locked out of the F-35 Lightning II program, despite recent speculation that relations between Washington and Ankara might be improving. Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rubio stated that current U.S. law prevents Turkey from purchasing or operating the fifth-generation fighter as long as it retains the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are asking Secretary of State Marco Rubio to clarify whether public statements made by the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, reflect the official position of the American government.