China has firmly rejected suggestions that its controlling stake in the Greek port of Piraeus could be sold, following comments by newly appointed US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle.
COSCO, China’s state-owned shipping group, holds 67% of the port, acquired in 2016 during Greece’s financial crisis.
Guilfoyle told Antenna TV that the US aims to “enhance output from other ports” to counter Chinese influence and that “perhaps Piraeus could be for sale.”
In a strongly worded statement posted on X, the Chinese embassy dismissed the remarks as “groundless attacks”, accusing the US of “inciting Greece to terminate its contractual obligations” and displaying a “Cold War mentality.”
The embassy stressed the port “must in no way fall victim to the geopolitical confrontation.”
The US, which is seeking greater influence in the region and expanding its defence footprint in Greece, has shown interest in smaller port assets. Washington has not commented on the ambassador’s remarks.
Source: Ekathimerini
