One of Washington's most influential conservative voices on national security has called Greece a "priority" in the US s...

One of Washington's most influential conservative voices on national security has called Greece a "priority" in the US security architecture, just hours before Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Athens. Matthew Kroenig, a Georgetown University professor who has served at the Pentagon and in the US intelligence community under three presidents, including Trump, made the remarks in an interview with Ekathimerini. Kroenig has also served as an adviser to Rubio personally. On Turkey, Kroenig was blunt. He described Ankara as a "problematic ally," a view he said is shared by many US national security experts, though he acknowledged Trump sees the relationship differently. He also raised serious concerns about the possibility of Turkey receiving F-35 jets, warning that Turkey's Russian-made S-400 air defense systems could give Moscow information on how to shoot down an American F-35, adding that he assumes the Pentagon is firmly against the idea. On Iran, Kroenig painted a picture of a regime under severe and escalating pressure. He said Iran is losing around $500 million per day in energy revenue due to the US-enforced blockade, with hyperinflation already taking hold. He argued it is only a matter of time before the regime can no longer pay its security services, which could change the calculus if Iranians rise up again. Kroenig said the US deployment of a third aircraft carrier and roughly 10,000 additional troops to the region is deliberate preparation, not posturing. He assessed that Trump would prefer to force a deal without direct conflict but would be open to escalation after the midterm elections if Iran does not come to the table. He also described the current moment as a major opportunity to reshape the Middle East, noting that Hamas has been effectively eliminated, Hezbollah badly weakened, Assad has fallen, and Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance is on its last legs. #Greece #USGreece #GreekSecurity