Since the beginning of the euro crisis, Athens has longingly looked to the United States – hoping to counterbalance harsh European partners, be acknowledged as a key part of the Western security alliance, and draw the interest of American investors and multinationals.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s current visit to the US may be the Greek government’s first opportunity to realize most of these goals. American political and thought leaders are turning against Turkey. There is growing realization in the US that the potential negatives of the Tsipras government (pro-Russian, anti-NATO, anti-Israel, etc) that American analysts had initially focused on have not panned out as feared; instead, American leaders have been pleasantly surprised by many of the government’s moves (Defense Minister Panos Kammenos’s pro-American stance and relationship with the Pentagon, the government’s deepening of ties with Israel). Finally, some momentum could be generated off of the first massive Greek-American investment in Greece (the Calamos purchase of Ethniki Insurance).
Conscience of a Hellene 