The Role and Influence of U.S. Foreign Policy in Modern Greece Essay

The Role and Influence of U.S. Foreign Policy in Modern Greece United States and Greece are tied by a common heritage and shared democratic values (Greece Relations with U.S.). In fact, approximately 1.1 million Americans are of Greek heritage, and Greek-Americans comprise the seventh largest recipient of U.S. social security benefits. It is not surprising that this community has played an important role in strengthening Greek and U.S. foreign relations. The United States and Greece have participated as allies in World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Cold War. Most recently, Greece has given the United States use of its airspace and military assets in the counter-terrorism conflict in Iraq (Greece Relations with U.S.). Despite these positive relations, anti-American attitudes still prevail among most of the country's inhabitants. In this paper, I will discuss the influence and role of U.S. foreign policy in Greece with the hope that a clearer understanding of Greek attitudes is gained. Over the years, Greece's most pressing foreign policy issues have included the dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia; the Cyprus conflict involving Turkey; relations with Albania; and disputes with Turkey over the Aegean (Greece Foreign Relations). In the resolutions of these conflicts, the United States has assumed a direct or indirect role. Some of the most recent events that have involved the United States and Greece more directly include human trafficking issues; the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; U.S. support of the military junta that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974; the 1997 war in Kosovo under the Clinton administration; the trial of the 17 November terrorist group; and security... .../web.lexis-nexis.com/universe>.? ?Human Trafficking Discussed in U.S. by Foreign Ministry Official Dollis.? Embassy of Greece. Washington, DC. 11 Nov. 2003. . ?Majority of EU Citizens Want Independent Foreign Policy From That Of U.S.? Athens News Agency 17 June 2003. Lexis Nexis. James B. Duke Lib. 19 Nov. 2003 . Second Annual Business Conference on Greece‑U.S. Relations.? Embassy of Greece Washington, DC.? 19 Nov. 2003 .? ?Wexler Set to Visit Cyprys and Greece.? Financial Times Information. Global News Wire. 25 June 2003. Lexis Nexis. James B. Duke Lib. 19 Nov. 2003 .