New US Ambassador to Greece

The newly arrived US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt presented yesterday his diplomatic credentials to the President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, at a ceremony in the Presidential Mansion, attended by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

Later in the day he received an official welcome ceremony on the US 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney, in the port of Piraeus.

Nominated by US President Barack Obama, Pyatt is widely regarded as an experienced diplomat. He previously served as US ambassador in Kiev and had to deal with the fallout of the Ukrainian crisis.

His appointment comes at a key time for both Athens and Washington. Recent developments in the wider region have created challenges as well as opportunities for the two NATO allies.

Obama is expected to visit Athens in November.