The United States aims to act as a “bridge” between Greece and Turkey, while President Donald Trump has expressed personal interest in reopening the historic Greek-Orthodox Theological School of Halki, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said in an interview.
Barrack spoke with Kathimerini on the sidelines of his visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, where he attended the arrival of Pope Leo XIV for a summit marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The ambassador also indicated a potential reopening of the Halki Seminary by September 2026.
“The purpose of my visit is twofold,” Barrack said. “First, to convey our congratulations and friendship on behalf of my president ahead of the pope’s appearance. Second, to monitor progress on the Halki seminary, a matter of importance to both President Trump and President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, and see if there is anything we can do to facilitate its reopening in September 2026.”
On Greek-Turkish relations, Barrack suggested the U.S. could help establish a “new regional order.”
“It starts now,” he said. “Two great countries bound to each other should not let past grievances dictate the present. Communication and prosperity must replace fear and division. Our goal is to be the mortar that brings these two bricks together.”
He also proposed creating a forum for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. “It all starts with communication, and communication is driven by prosperity more than by fear. Imagine what could be achieved for both countries and the region if Greece and Turkey work together,” he said.
Barrack highlighted the broader regional context, from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, emphasizing energy resources and historical trade routes. “The Caspian has abundant fossil fuel resources blocked to the Mediterranean, where Greece and Turkey are gateways. Removing political interference through prosperity is our hope,” he said.
He also stressed Cyprus’s importance. “You cannot have an abscess in the middle of a healthy body. Every part of that body must be healed, and Cyprus is a key part,” Barrack added.