Athens police have imposed a 24-hour ban on all public outdoor gatherings across central Athens, running from 6:00 am We...

Athens police have imposed a 24-hour ban on all public outdoor gatherings across central Athens, running from 6:00 am Wednesday until 6:00 am Thursday, tied to the arrival of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The restricted zone covers a wide stretch of the city center, bounded by major arteries including Vasilissis Sofias Avenue and Vasileos Alexandrou Avenue. Police said the measures are precautionary, with authorities citing concerns that gatherings and vehicle convoys could disrupt public safety and economic activity across the area. Rubio arrived in Athens on Tuesday for a packed schedule of high-level talks centered on energy, regional security, and US arms sales to Greece. On Wednesday he is set to meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis. The visit comes at a sensitive moment for the Eastern Mediterranean, with Greece and the US deepening defense ties and Athens looking to expand its military procurement from Washington. Energy cooperation and regional security, particularly given ongoing tensions with Turkey, are expected to dominate the agenda. The gathering ban applies to vehicle convoys as well, a move that reflects the scale of the security operation surrounding Rubio's presence in the capital. #Greece #Rubio #Athens