During a visit to Greece on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions regarding US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle’s recent comments suggesting that the US could potentially influence government changes in Romania and Greece. This inquiry was prompted by a report from The Wall Street Journal, which detailed Guilfoyle’s promotion of natural gas business interests in Southeastern Europe.
At a meeting in Athens with his Greek counterpart, Rubio was asked by an American journalist whether he had personally assessed the allegations surrounding Guilfoyle’s actions and if he believed they adhered to State Department ethics standards. Rubio did not directly respond, instead emphasizing his support for the ambassador’s work.
“This is not the forum in which we will address this subject, plain and simple. Let’s just say our embassy here is doing an excellent job. Our ambassador has been a strong ambassador. The questions you are asking are not typically addressed in press conferences in Greece with the foreign minister of another country,” Rubio stated.
US Congress Gets Involved
Rubio’s comments come after last week’s calls from Democratic leaders on the US Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees for the State Department to investigate Guilfoyle’s conduct. This request arose from revelations in The Wall Street Journal alleging that she suggested the US could overthrow governments in reference to Romania and Greece.
The Wall Street Journal further reported that Guilfoyle attended meetings with foreign officials alongside a lobbyist, promoting a Greek company and its partnership with a state-supported firm.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed her concerns in a letter to Rubio, referring to what she termed the “improper use of an official position.” Shaheen noted, “Such actions do not serve the credibility of the United States abroad and risk undermining American diplomacy,” despite having previously voted for Guilfoyle’s confirmation.
She requested the State Department to clarify what measures are being taken to avoid undue influence and the appearance of conflicts of interest.
Concerns about Influence in Romania
Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also stated in a letter that if the reports are accurate, Guilfoyle is “not fit to represent the United States abroad and should be removed from her position.” Both lawmakers have demanded documents and explanations concerning the meetings attended by lobbyist Christos Marafatsos and any financial interests Guilfoyle may have.
In a letter dated September 30, Meeks requested a response by mid-October, inquiring whether the State Department, the White House, the National Security Council, or any other US governmental entity had ordered any activities aimed at influencing the composition or survival of the Romanian government.
The US Embassy in Greece has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that Guilfoyle adheres to all State Department ethical standards. An embassy official stated, “Any insinuation that she acted outside ethical norms is categorically false.”
Controversial Remarks about Romania
The focus centers on a statement attributed to Guilfoyle during a dinner in Athens in March. According to The Wall Street Journal, she suggested that the US could influence the imminent collapse of the Romanian government, saying, “We can do this to any country we want. We can do this here too.” Her attorney has contested how the conversation was reported.
Guilfoyle made these remarks on March 18 during an official dinner at the US embassy in Athens, attended by over a dozen individuals, including politicians and embassy staff, as noted by a source familiar with the events.
The remarks have sparked reactions in both Greece and Romania, with opposition parties in Athens urging the government to take action regarding her statements or summon Guilfoyle for clarification. The Greek government, through its spokesperson, asserted that “there was never any talk of a threat” and that such behavior “would never be tolerated,” but refrained from commenting on the ambassador’s alleged remarks.
Guilfoyle Promotes LNG Purchases from the US
Financial Times reported that following the Athens dinner, Guilfoyle traveled to Bucharest and met with members of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) at the end of March, including President Sorin Grindeanu and the energy minister at the time, Bogdan Ivan. It remains unclear whether she advised them to withdraw from the governing coalition, according to the financial publication.
Guilfoyle was in Bucharest to promote a gas corridor from Greece through Bulgaria and Romania to Ukraine, also advocating that Romania purchase significant quantities of liquefied natural gas from the US, as per two sources familiar with the discussions, cited by Financial Times.
The Financial Times quoted a State Department spokesperson affirming that Washington values its strategic partnership with Romania, which remains strong regarding shared priorities, including energy security and defense burden-sharing. US Ambassador to Bucharest Darryl Nirenberg stated that “the United States has complete confidence in Romania’s democracy” and that the Romanian political system should resolve its internal issues.
