The Americas
Archive
Trump victory downgrades Syriza investment in Obama visit to “junk” status
It seems Greece’s Syriza government invested too much energy and hope in the Clinton family enterprise and that investment quickly went through the floor...
Archive
Desperation over debt relief underlies Greek hopes for Obama’s Greece stop
While the world has focused on the closing days of the U.S. election campaign, in Athens advance teams from the White House and other...
Archive
Low gas prices clog pipeline projects, EastMed’s Leviathan
ATHENS – Low gas prices have a limited effect on the planning of major pipeline projects, including plans to export gas from the East...
Archive
Better Late than Never: Possible Obama Greece visit in November
Rumors surfaced October 18th in Washington that U.S. President Barack Obama may visit Athens around November 14-15. There has been no official announcement....
Archive
For Greece’s PM Tsipras, Another Fruitless Run at the Debt Issue in New York
In serious trouble at home from a series of interconnected scandals and policy blunders, Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras turned to the annual UN...
Archive
Jack Lew does Athens and urges continued reform, but promises nothing on debt
As promised by President Obama in Warsaw earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew concluded his post-Brexit vote European consultations and visited Athens for...
Archive
Obama meets Tsipras in Warsaw, its NATO time, isn't it?
Another almost unnoticed (by Washington) Greece-U.S. bilateral meeting happened on the sidelines of the Warsaw NATO Summit July 9.
Although this meeting was barely on...
Archive
Washington reiterates the UK and the EU will remain indispensable partners of the United States
The Obama White House released this brief statement early Friday: “The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision. The...
Archive
Ukraine trumps Greece at Senate Hearing for U.S. Ambassador-Designate to Greece Pyatt
Greece-watchers were likely disappointed that Ukraine trumped Greece in the June 21 Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) confirmation hearings for several of the Obama...
Archive
Trump to OPEC, Russia: Drop Dead or The Big Chillary
The outcome of the US general election this November could affect Washington’s energy policy and relations with Russia. Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump’s slogan...
Archive
In Athens, Putin puts the full court press on EU
ATHENS – Russian President Vladimir Putin landed with a one-and-a-half hour delay in Greece on Friday, May 27, for a two-day visit aimed to boost...
Archive
Go West! PM Tsipras Sends State Minister Pappas to the U.S. in search of a lifeline
If we have learned anything about the way Greek PM Alexis Tsipras operates, it this axiom: when times are tough it’s always smart to...
Archive
U.S. Treasury's Nathan Sheets does Athens: Now what?
U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs Nathan Sheets stopped in Athens May 11 and met with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Finance Minister...
Archive
Putin brings his energy game to Athens
ATHENS - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Greece on May 28 to boost Moscow’s energy relations with Athens and secure the...
Archive
Greek Debt: What exactly did Treasury's Under Secretary Sheets mean about Greece and the IMF?
U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs Nathan Sheets faced a hardball question Wednesday, April 26 while at a hearing at the House of...
Archive
Despite low oil prices, Russia makes fresh Arctic bid
Russia has reportedly submitted to the United Nations an updated bid for the extension of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean. Russian Minister...
Archive
Davos Dreaming: Reform is the word for Greece coming from Washington
Although not in Davos for the latest round of Greece related fireworks, mostly involving German and Commission officials, this writer has been parsing the...
Archive
As Oil Prices Tank, Saudis Open to Aramco IPO
Pressured by slumping oil prices, Saudi Arabia is considering listing shares in state-owned Aramco.Probably the world’s most valuable company and the world’s biggest oil...
Archive
John Kerry Graces Greece with a Mini-visit. Check off that box.
The real news is that the Kerry Greece visit actually happened December 4th. That’s one more box to check off for last week’s European...
Archive
With Washington’s Blessing: Greece Wants To Be Hub For East Med, Caspian Gas
ATHENS – The major gas discoveries in Israel, Cyprus and Egypt have completely changed regional geopolitics and energy supply in the Eastern Mediterranean, Energean...
Archive
John Kerry finally visits Athens. What to Expect
After one postponement last month due to the Syria crisis, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry finally arrives for a short visit in Athens...
Archive
Russia’s Syria Strikes, Slowing Production Boost Oil Prices
Rising geopolitical tensions and signs of slowing output, boosted oil prices last week testing new highs.International oil benchmark Brent crude has rallied by as...
Archive
Tsipras, the UN and the “American factor”
We have made it a point to emphasize that PM Tsipras September 26-October 1 New York visit focused far less on the business of...
Archive
G20 Ministers Stream Competing EU Pipeline Projects, Fret Over Oil
G20 energy ministers met in Istanbul on October 2, striving for sustainable development amidst low oil prices and climate change negotiations. European Commissioner for...
Archive
Greek PM Tsipras does New York. This was a UN visit, right?
Greek PM Tsipras arrived in New York late September 26th, intending to stay until October 2. His main UN General Assembly (UNGA) address is...
Archive
Syrian Oil Catalyst to Team US-Russia vs. ISIS
SOCHI – Only if the United States and Russia put their differences aside and work together they can put a curb on ISIS actions...
Archive
Now that the election is over, Tsipras plans an UNGA visit. New York will again be the place to be…
Admittedly a very busy man these days, Greek PM Tsipras is planning to join the world’s UNGA-70 (70th anniversary of the UN General Assembly)...
Archive
Putin pours money into Venezuela oil production
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said Caracas and Russia’s sanction-hit Rosneft have agreed on around $14 billion in investment in the South American country’s oil...
Archive
UK energy firm suspends Ukraine license to drill
UK-based energy firm JKX Energy, which is leading shale exploration and production in Ukraine, said it was granted more areas for work in the...
Archive
Turkey Wants Kurds’ Energy Hand
Turkey is turning to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to meet its growing demand for energy. Co-operation with Erbil may help Ankara diversify its oil and...
Archive
US Warning Shot To Iran On Nukes
BRATISLAVA – On 19 April, the United States reiterated it is “determined to stop” Iran from developing nuclear weapon capability. “States such as Iran...
Must read