LEADERSHIP VISITS ABROAD AHI President Conducts Successful 4-City European Trip

In addition, Larigakis assessed the situation at Greece’s border with Turkey during a tour of the border fence of Evros, specifically in the area of Petalo.

The itinerary also included a meeting with His Beatitude Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis.

Thessaloniki: AHI President Delivers Lecture to Greece’s Top Military Officers

President Nick Larigakis concluded a successful year-end trip that included stops in four cities: Alexandroupolis, Thessaloniki, Brussels, and Athens. The trip included President Larigakis delivering lectures, engaging with government officials and religious leaders, touring military facilities, and AHI’s well-established annual Athens panel discussion.

Alexandroupolis: Seaport’s potential is “exceptional”

President Larigakis visited Alexandroupolis on November 22 and 23, 2022; a visit authorized by General Konstantinos Floros, who serves as chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (HNDS).

The president of the Alexandroupolis Port Authority, Kostantinos Xatzimixail, and its CEO, Kostantinos Xatzikonstantinou, briefed President Larigakis about the master plan for the port and the seaport’s potential, which Larigakis described as “exceptional.” Andre Cameron, director, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, 598th Transportation Brigade, 839th Transportation Battalion, TC DET Eastern Med-Greece (SDDC), briefed Larigakis and gave him a tour of the seaport. During the tour, Larigakis witnessed the significant number of U.S. military assets docked at the port, which had just arrived on board an American vehicle carrier ship.

Larigakis received an update about Greece’s military capabilities in the area when he visited the XII Mechanized Infantry Division Headquarters and met with the Division’s Commander, Major General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos. There, he received a full briefing by the Division’s Chief of Staff Colonel Vasileios Lampropoulos. Major General Kavidopoulos and Colonel Lampropoulos facilitated all the ground activities in Alexandroupolis, and Kavidopoulos also arranged a dinner for Larigakis at the Officer’s Club. A visit was also arranged to the Hellenic Armor Simulation Center.

In Thessaloniki, November 24 and 25, President Larigakis delivered his first of three lectures on the trip to Greece when he spoke at the Hellenic Supreme Joint War College. He addressed an audience of 270 of Greece’s top officers who hold ranks of major and colonel. Larigakis spoke about AHI’s role in advocating for the rule of law in U.S. policy as it relates to the Eastern Mediterranean. A lively Q&A followed the lecture, which was very well received.