Videos and photographs circulating on social media from the lavish welcome party for the new US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, have drawn attention for more than just their glamour. Among the attendees was Cypriot businessman John Christodoulou, whose presence appears to reflect more than a passing acquaintance with the incoming American envoy.
Online sources show that Guilfoyle had attended Christodoulou’s birthday celebrations in Monaco earlier this summer - an event that also featured Greek singer Konstantinos Argyros, who performed at Sunday’s reception in Athens. The images suggest that the connection between the two extends beyond formal diplomatic courtesy.
Guilfoyle, who is officially presenting her credentials to President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tassoulas on Tuesday, is a well-known figure within Donald Trump’s inner circle and remains in direct contact with the US president.
Trump's close circle across Eastern Mediterranean
The appointments of US ambassadors across Athens, Nicosia and Ankara appear to reflect Washington’s preference for trusted figures from Trump’s business and political network.
In Turkey, real estate investor Tom Barrack, of Lebanese descent and long-time Trump ally, is set to take up his post in Ankara. In Cyprus, the new ambassador John Breslow, a prominent businessman and Republican donor, also counts himself among Trump’s financial backers.
This alignment of appointments underscores a coordinated approach to regional diplomacy - one that places emphasis on energy, investment, and transatlantic cooperation.
Energy and strategic interests
All three ambassadors are seen as supportive of a US strategy to consolidate influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, an area where American companies have invested heavily, particularly in the energy sector.
A prominent example is Chevron, which maintains active operations in Cyprus, Israel, Egypt and Greece.
During her confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Guilfoyle praised Greece’s role as an energy hub and expressed support for advancing interconnection projects linking Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt - a framework viewed in Washington as crucial for regional stability and energy security.
Transatlantic energy partnership summit in Athens
The timing of Guilfoyle’s arrival coincides with this week’s Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) summit, taking place in Athens on 6–7 November.
Three senior members of the Trump administration are participating: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary and Chair of the National Energy Sovereignty Council Doug Burgum, and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas.
The event is expected to draw energy ministers from 25 countries across both sides of the Atlantic and more than 400 senior officials, underscoring the growing significance of energy diplomacy in the region.
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