MEDITERRANEAN SEA —This week, Senator Rick Scott, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and ranking member of the SASC Personnel Subcommittee, visited Greece and Cyprus to meet with American troops deployed to the Sixth Fleet and leaders of allied and partner nations to advance bilateral relationships and economic policy. With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Senator Scott met with these leaders in the region to reassure our allies and partners of America’s commitment to their safety and security.

During his visit to the Sixth Fleet, Senator Scott spoke to sailors assigned to the USS James E. Williams DDG95 while aboard the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two SNMG2 flagship—the multinational integrated task group that highlights the NATO alliance’s commitment to security in the region.

Senator Rick Scott said, "Over the last week, I have had the opportunity to visit with leaders in the Mediterranean to discuss the importance of our continued working relationships and the significance of their work in protecting America’s national security. Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine has placed this region on heightened alert and highlighted the need for strength in Europe. I want to thank our partners and leaders throughout the Mediterranean for supporting U.S. priorities in the region. America is safer and more secure because of the great allies and partners we have in this region and across the globe. Additionally, I want to sincerely thank the men and women I met throughout the Sixth Fleet for all their hard work and sacrifices in serving our nation. As a Navy veteran myself, I know the hardships that come from being away from home. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and ranking member of the Personnel Subcommittee, I will continue to work every day to make sure our service men and women have all the resources they need, and continue to support policies that support our mission of peace and security throughout the world.”

During his trip, Senator Scott met with the following leaders:

• Rear Admiral Michael Sciretta, Commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group Two
• Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of Defense
• General Konstantinos Floros, Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff
• Lieutenant General Georgios Kiriakou, Chief of Staff of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff
• Vice Admiral Fragkiskos Leloudas HN, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff
• Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece
• George J. Tsunis, U.S. Ambassador to Greece
• Julie Fisher, U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus
• Yaryna Ferencevych, Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Nicosia
• Colonel Roger Bowman, Defense Attaché at U.S. Embassy Nicosia
• Georgios Sekerglou, Director, Export Control and Related Border Security
• Annita Demetriou, President of the Republic of Cyprus House of Representatives
• Constantinos Kombos, Republic of Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Michalis Giorgallas, Republic of Cyprus Minister of Defense
• Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis, Chief of the National Guard General Staff, Republic of Cyprus
• Commander Alan Mardegian, USS San Juan Commanding Officer
• Captain John Craddock, Commodore of Command Task Force 69
• Georgios Georgiou, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus
• Kyriacos Kyriacou, Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus
• Savvas Klitou, Honorary Treasurer of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus

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