Rubio backs Guilfoyle: a green light for toppling governments in Europe?

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly voiced his support for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the United States ambassador to Greece, after senior Democratic lawmakers called for an investigation into the diplomat's activities. According to a report by G4Media, the objections relate to the promotion of U.S. liquefied natural gas sales in Southeast Europe and to the ambassador's dealings with business figures.

In a message posted on the U.S. Embassy in Athens' Instagram account, Rubio wrote that Guilfoyle had represented President Donald Trump's agenda in Greece and Europe with notable success. He specifically highlighted the advancement of U.S. energy interests and the Vertical Energy Corridor, which he described as an initiative backed by both American parties. The corridor links LNG terminals in Greece, via Bulgaria and Romania, to Central Europe and Ukraine.

Rubio's message of support came after the leading Democratic members of the U.S. Senate and House foreign affairs committees approached the State Department over Guilfoyle's conduct. Citing an investigative article in The Wall Street Journal, they objected that the ambassador had supported gas-sector agreements of the Greek company Aktor in Southeast Europe. In a letter to Rubio, Senator Jeanne Shaheen raised the possibility of misuse of official position, pointing in particular to the participation of a registered lobbyist in diplomatic meetings, as well as to support given to one of the lobbyist's Greek clients and to a joint venture the client had formed with a state-owned company.

Source: G4Media