On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the quiet hum of machinery at a liquefied natural gas terminal outside Athens was interrupted by a visit that could reshape the energy landscape of Europe. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, serving as a top energy adviser to President Donald Trump, arrived at the site to highlight a vision that’s as much about geopolitics as it is about pipelines and tankers: turning Greece into a central hub for American natural gas exports to Europe.
Standing beside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Burgum outlined a strategy that’s been gaining momentum since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "The Trump administration has a couple of goals relative to energy," Burgum explained, according to the Associated Press. "One of those is energy abundance — to sell energy to our friends and allies so they do not have to buy from our adversaries." It’s a simple enough statement, but behind it lies a complex web of alliances, rivalries, and economic interests that spans continents and decades.
The terminal Burgum toured is more than just a piece of industrial infrastructure. Linked to a bidirectional pipeline network that stretches as far as Ukraine, it occupies a strategic position in the continent’s energy map. The network’s reach means that liquefied natural gas (LNG) arriving in Greece can be routed deep into Eastern Europe, reducing the region’s dependence on Russian supplies—a dependency that’s long made European policymakers uneasy.
Since Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, that unease has turned into urgent action. According to the Associated Press, more than half of the European Union’s LNG supply now comes from the United States, a dramatic surge that’s upended the traditional energy order. The numbers are striking: the U.S. has rapidly become Europe’s dominant supplier, filling the gap left by Russian exports and helping to keep the lights on in cities from Warsaw to Vienna.
This transatlantic energy partnership is set to deepen further. In the summer of 2025, the EU and the U.S. inked a trade deal designed to boost LNG imports even more. The agreement, reached at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, underscores the urgency both sides feel about shoring up Europe’s energy security. For American policymakers, it’s also a major economic opportunity—a chance to sell abundant U.S. natural gas to eager buyers across the Atlantic.
But the story doesn’t end with tankers docking in Greek ports. Burgum was quick to point out the broader opportunities that this new energy order offers to Greece itself. "There are so many opportunities for participation by Greek companies and by the country of Greece to contribute to energy security for Eastern Europe," he said. The message was clear: Greece isn’t just a transit point, but a potential partner and beneficiary in the reshaping of Europe’s energy future.
That potential is already being put to the test. Just a day before Burgum’s visit, U.S. energy giant Chevron announced a joint bid with Greek partner Helleniq Energy to explore for offshore gas reserves off Greece’s western coast and south of the island of Crete. The move could unlock new sources of supply for Europe, further cementing Greece’s role as a linchpin in the region’s energy system.
Yet, as is often the case in the Mediterranean, such ambitions come with complications. Libya has strongly objected to the Chevron-Helleniq exploration plan, arguing that it encroaches on maritime areas where Libya claims jurisdiction. The dispute is a reminder that in this part of the world, questions of energy and territory are inseparable—and that every pipeline or drilling rig can become a flashpoint for international tension.
For Greece, the stakes are high. The country has long sought to leverage its geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. By becoming a major hub for American LNG, Greece stands to gain not only economically, through investment and job creation, but also politically, by enhancing its stature within the EU and among its neighbors. The government of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, eager to attract foreign investment and modernize the country’s energy sector, has embraced the opportunity with open arms.
For the United States, the calculus is equally clear. By exporting more natural gas to Europe, Washington can help its allies reduce their dependence on Russian energy—a longstanding strategic goal—while also supporting American industry and jobs at home. It’s a win-win scenario, at least in theory, but one that requires careful diplomacy and deft management of regional sensitivities.
Not everyone in Europe is entirely comfortable with the rapid pivot toward American LNG. Some critics worry about the environmental impact of increased fossil fuel consumption, while others question whether relying on U.S. exports simply replaces one form of dependency with another. Still, the consensus among policymakers in Athens, Brussels, and Washington is that the benefits—in terms of security, stability, and economic growth—outweigh the risks.
The Chevron-Helleniq deal is a case in point. If successful, it could open up vast new reserves of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, providing Europe with a reliable source of energy for decades to come. But it also has the potential to inflame regional tensions, particularly with Libya, which has already signaled its displeasure. Navigating these challenges will require not just technical expertise, but also a steady hand in international relations.
As Burgum’s visit made clear, the U.S. sees Greece as a key partner in its broader strategy to reshape Europe’s energy landscape. The combination of infrastructure, political will, and geographic advantage makes Greece uniquely positioned to serve as a gateway for American energy into the heart of the continent. It’s a role that comes with both opportunities and responsibilities, as the country seeks to balance its own interests with those of its neighbors and allies.
Looking ahead, the challenge will be to ensure that this new era of energy cooperation delivers on its promise—providing secure, affordable, and sustainable energy to millions of Europeans, while avoiding the pitfalls of geopolitical rivalry and environmental harm. The path forward won’t be easy, but the stakes are too high for failure to be an option.
In the end, the scene at the Athens LNG terminal captures the essence of this moment: a convergence of ambition, technology, and diplomacy, with Greece standing at the crossroads of a rapidly changing world. Whether the country can seize the opportunity and navigate the risks remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the eyes of Europe, and indeed the world, are watching closely.