Greece and the United States are strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties following a high-level meeting at the State Department in Washington, D.C., between Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Darren Beattie.
This marked the first official meeting between a Greek government representative and the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump. Beattie, who has a background in classical studies and a deep appreciation for Greece, described the meeting as the beginning of “a historic and productive four-year period” of U.S.-Greece collaboration.
Lina Mendoni with Darren Beattie.
In discussions with Beattie, Mendoni highlighted Greece’s commitment to deepening its cultural ties with the U.S., stressing the importance of ongoing collaboration in heritage preservation and cultural exchange.
According to the Culture Ministry, this shared focus will take center stage at the 6th Bilateral U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, set to take place in Athens this fall. Beattie welcomed the opportunity to further these discussions and accepted Mendoni’s invitation to visit the Greek capital for the event.
Moreover, Mendoni reiterated Greece’s commitment to fighting antiquities trafficking and announced a fall conference co-organized with the U.S. State Department and the American Embassy in Athens.
She also praised antiquities repatriation efforts, carried out in partnership with Manhattan Attorney General Matthew Bogdanos, under an existing Memorandum of Collaboration effective until 2026.
On his part, Beattie pledged stronger U.S. support and proposed stricter penalties for antiquities trafficking when the agreement is renewed.
Furthering cultural cooperation, Mendoni proposed an exhibition on ancient sports in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and provided updates on upcoming Greek exhibitions, including The Prince of Pylos, which will open at the Getty Museum in June. Beattie proposed a bilateral exchange program in classical studies, highlighting Greece’s enduring impact on American culture.
The meeting was also attended by Glen Davis, Director of the State Department’s Cultural Heritage Center; Ekaterini Nassika, Greek Ambassador to the U.S.; and Vaso Papageorgiou, Director of the Department of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Heritage at the Greek Culture Ministry.
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