Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou is expected to meet US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington.Papastavrou and Wright will co-host a ministerial meeting of the members of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, focusing on energy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. The discussions will address issues of energy security, the implementation of infrastructure projects, the attraction of large-scale investment, and the strengthening of regional cooperation.This ministerial meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, held under the Presidency of Greece and co-organised with the United States, marks the first ministerial-level session of the Forum in nearly three years. According to sources within the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the meeting under Greece’s presidency reaffirms the country’s leading role in the Eastern Mediterranean within a key cooperative framework, at a critical juncture for regional energy and geopolitical developments. It also promotes a clear framework for regional energy cooperation that discourages unilateral or destabilising actions.In particular, the ministerial discussions will focus on the long-term strategic evolution of the EMGF beyond natural gas, as well as on energy security, infrastructure development, investment attraction, regional cooperation, and the strengthening of the Eastern Mediterranean’s strategic position within the evolving international and European energy architecture.The East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) is an intergovernmental organisation established in January 2020 with the aim of promoting dialogue, cooperation, and the development of joint energy initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean. It obtained formal international organisation status in 2021 and is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.Its full members include Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Palestine (not recognised as a state by the Hellenic Republic; it is nevertheless a founding member of the EMGF pursuant to Law 4769/2021, Government Gazette A’ 14/29.01.2021, ratifying the EMGF Statute), and France, which joined as a full member in 2023. The United States, the European Union, and the World Bank participate as observers.The Forum functions as a platform for dialogue among governments, regulatory authorities, international organisations, and the private sector, promoting joint projects and deeper regional energy integration.The EMGF is the only institutionalised multilateral energy platform in the Eastern Mediterranean, bringing together producer, transit, and consumer countries. In a period of heightened geopolitical challenges and shifts in global energy markets, the Forum plays a significant role in advancing energy security, regional cooperation, and the development of strategic infrastructure that enhances connectivity and resilience across the wider region.Its importance has increased in recent years as Europe seeks to diversify its energy sources and supply routes, while the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a key hub for energy development and interconnection.Greece, as a founding member of the EMGF, plays an active role in shaping the energy architecture of the wider region. Its participation aligns with national strategic priorities, including:-positioning Greece as an energy gateway and connectivity hub between the Eastern Mediterranean, South-Eastern Europe, and the European Union;-promoting strategic infrastructure and interconnection projects, including the Vertical Gas Corridor, electricity interconnections, and LNG infrastructure;-enhancing energy security and diversification of supply sources and routes for Greece and Europe;-attracting investment in energy, infrastructure, and innovation;-and promoting regional stability and cooperation through joint energy initiatives.It is also noted that Papastavrou and Secretary Wright will attend the annual Leaders Council Dinner hosted by the Atlantic Council.On Tuesday, Papastavrou will hold a bilateral meeting with Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawy. On June 8–9, the Minister of Environment and Energy, together with the US counterpart, will participate in the Atlantic Council’s annual Global Energy Forum, while Papastavrou will also attend the East Med Business Forum held on the sidelines of the conference.