ATHENS: Greece's conservative government on Wednesday sought to distance itself from the shock ouster of US ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, with a senior official insisting relations with Washington are unaffected.
"These are issues that concern the US and do not affect Greek-American relations," deputy prime minister Costis Hatzidakis told state TV ERT.
"This is not the first time that there are no ambassadors, in Greece or other countries in Europe, representing the US or other states for some months," he said.
US president Donald Trump forced Guilfoyle out of the administration on Tuesday, amid allegations she sought money from one of his supporters and accepted lavish hospitality from wealthy Greek businessmen.
The move came days after a visit to Athens by state secretary Marco Rubio.
Guilfoyle, 57, a former Fox News host and ex-fiancee of Trump's eldest son, had faced mounting scrutiny following a series of reports by The Wall Street Journal about her financial dealings and relationships with wealthy businessmen.
The Journal reported that she asked Eric Deters, an influential Trump supporter, to pay off US$100,000 in personal credit card debt shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing in July 2025.
The Journal also reported that Guilfoyle boasted of luxury trips and hotel stays funded by wealthy Greek businessmen, citing hundreds of messages, emails and other records, including recorded conversations.
In Athens, there was particular outrage after a Journal report last month alleged Guilfoyle stated that the US could organise "political change" in Europe.
“We can do that to any country we want. We can do that here," she allegedly said at a March dinner attended by Greek and American officials.
The Greek government said it had "never" been threatened or pressured, and the foreign ministry said it was "unnecessary" to summon Guilfoyle on the issue.
The main opposition party's foreign affairs spokesman, Dimitris Mantzos in a statement, said the reports "essentially confirm a model of transactional diplomacy, far removed from the principled foreign policy that our country ought to be implementing".
"Do the government and the prime minister intend to take any initiative or make any representation to the US, or will they be content to watch the country being offered as a 'theatre' for economic and business battles of (private) interests?" Mantzos said.
The US embassy's deputy chief of mission Josh Huck, a career diplomat, is expected to take charge in the interim, Greek reports said Wednesday.
In a statement on X, Guilfoyle rejected the allegations against her and defended her record as ambassador, highlighting efforts to boost US energy exports and strengthen security ties with Greece.