Strategic Partnership Between SBMA and Hellenic ASEAN Business Council Established

Economic cooperation and growth between the Philippines and Greece got boosted recently as a result of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Hellenic ASEAN Business Council (HABC) formally signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which sealed a strategic partnership, according to the official announcement by the SBMA. As of this writing, five foreign companies have expressed interest to invest within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Hellenic ASEAN Business Council (HABC) have formalized a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance economic cooperation and growth between Greece and the Philippines.

The MOU was signed on 17 September 2026 at Building 225 in Subic Bay Freeport by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and HABC Chairman Nick Stasinopoulos. The agreement aims to promote bilateral trade, investment, tourism, logistics, maritime cooperation, infrastructure development, and sustainable economic growth, leveraging active engagement from both private sectors and institutional partners.

This collaboration will spotlight investment opportunities within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) and facilitate business matching, trade delegations, and commercial ventures in key sectors. Specific areas of focus include shipbuilding, ship repair, port operations, logistics, marine maintenance, tourism, cruise terminal development, and waterfront enhancements.

“Subic Bay has evolved into one of the Philippines’ premier investment and economic hubs,” said Aliño. “We are proud to welcome HABC and the broader Hellenic business community as partners in this promising new chapter. This agreement represents a shared commitment to fostering enduring ties that will benefit both our nations for years to come.”

Stasinopoulos emphasized the significance of the pact, noting, “Today’s signing marks a vital milestone in strengthening the relationship between Greece and the Philippines. Our partnership builds on ongoing dialogues, visits, and direct exchanges between both sides.”

Highlighting the maritime sector’s role, he added, “The synergy between our countries is undeniable — Greece is home to the world’s largest maritime communities, while the Philippines is a key contributor to the global maritime workforce. Subic Bay has emerged as a crucial maritime and economic hub, integrating port operations, logistics, manufacturing, and investment.”

The HABC chairman outlined the council’s objectives under the agreement: “We aim to facilitate greater exchanges between Greek and Philippine maritime stakeholders, identify mutual investment opportunities, foster business partnerships, and encourage the sharing of knowledge and expertise.”

Five companies have already expressed interest in investing within the SBFZ, including ERMA Tech Group, a global leader in sustainable maritime technologies specializing in decarbonization, water and wastewater treatment, and marine equipment solutions. Also among the interested investors is Fontanakis Ship Repair, a Piraeus-based Greek company specializing in ship repairs, dry-docking services, engineering studies, and yacht building and restoration.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that trade and cooperation between Greece and the Philippines will create positive economic impact in the near future? Do you think this will make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone even more attractive to foreign investors?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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(from de:criminalize)

'ON MONDAY, D. FROM SOUTH SUDAN WILL STAND TRIAL AND FACE 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR "SMUGGLING"

Next Monday, 5th of October, D. will stand trial in Chania, Crete. He is a young boy from South Sudan.

He has been arrested in January 2026 near the coast of Crete and charged with "smuggling" after being forced to drive the boat from Libya to Greece, on his way to seek asylum.

He has already been in pre-trial detention for 9 months awaiting for his trial. Now, with this accusations, he could face 25 years in prison.

D.'S STORY:

"The war in Sudan broke out and my father was killed. After that I left for Libya, I lost contact with my mother and siblings. In Libya I was alone, I was 15. There was no work and nothing to eat. My eyes would swell for days and I couldn't see properly. People would kidnap me and ask for money. The last time they took me, I had no money: so they made me drive the boat. Now l am in prison. My siblings have no one to feed them and my mom cant manage alone. The war in Sudan is still going on."

Like so many others, D. has been charged with "facilitating the unauthorized entry" of the other people on the boat - simply because he took on a task during the journey.

This charge is systematically used to criminalize people on the move. On almost every boat, at least one person is arrested. Every year, countless people are imprisoned - punished simply for arriving, and for helping others along the way.

D. is a young person with a future ahead of him - stripped of his freedom by a system that criminalizes survival.

Thanks to your support, we were able to hire a lawyer for him, ensuring he has proper defense at Monday's trial.

SHARE HIS STORY,
DEMAND HIS RELEASE!
FREE D., FREE THEM ALL!'

#Greece #decriminalize #migrants #refugees #refugeesWelcome #SouthSudan #Sudan

DeutscheWelle: Athens: Fuss over alleged U.S. coup statement - www.dw.com

Athens: Fuss over alleged U.S. coup statement

Bali Foot (from Athens)

2 hours ago

Has Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle in Greece hinted at a change of government due to US interference? While the Greek government denies the explosive report, the opposition is demanding clarification.

p.dw.com/p/5NZns

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US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, here at a gala in November 2024, is said to have suggested at a dinner in Athens that the US could bring about a change of government if it wantedBild: Alex Brandon/AP/picture alliance

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The relationship between Greece and US diplomacy has been anything but easy in the past. Several American ambassadors in Athens, such as John Peurifoy or Henry Taska, are said to have behaved not like diplomats, but like the actual rulers of the country. They are said to have massively interfered in domestic political affairs and undermined Greek democracy. US President Bill Clinton apologized for this during his visit to Athens in November 1999.

One would think that in the 21st century something like this shouldn't happen anymore. But according to a report

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle did just that at a dinner in Athens in March. According to the report, at the dinner, which was attended by Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, among others, Guilfoyle referred to the expected collapse of the Romanian government and said: "We can do this with any country where we want to - we can do it here too." According to the newspaper, Papastavrou replied that the USA no government elected by the people can replace it. A heated argument then broke out.

The strange prophecy

Two weeks after that dinner, the US ambassador traveled to Bucharest. And a few months later, the governing coalition in Romania collapsed. So what happened at dinner in Athens happened: the Romanian government fell. There is no evidence that the USA had an influence on this - but neither is the opposite.

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, US Secretary of the Interior Dough Burgum and Ambassador Guilfoyle (from left) at a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens in November 2025Bild: Louiza Vradi/REUTERS

After the report was published in the Wall Street Journal on September 25, Ambassador Guilfoyle had her lawyer deny the newspaper's account.

The Greek government also rejected the claim, but only after three days. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said there had never been a threat against the government.

The Financial Times, in turn, has now confirmed the core of the report with its own source.

Between Vogue covers and economic interference

Even before the dinner debate, Kimberly Guilfoyle had made numerous headlines in Greece.

The New York Times wrote at the beginning of 2026 that she had become the "talk of the town in Athens" since her appointment as ambassador at the end of 2025 and could still be found late in the capital's nightlife. In November 2025, Guilfoyle even made it onto the cover of Greek Vogue.

Shortly after taking office in Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle made it onto the cover of Vogue GreeceBild: Vogue Greece

The 56-year-old former prosecutor, ex-Fox News presenter and ex-fiancée of Donald Trump Jr. is considered a close confidante US presidents and maintains a similar style of communication with members of the Greek government as the US President does with the rest of the world. She is supposed to maintain a direct line to many Greek ministers. She also personally interferes in business, particularly in the energy sector, and publicly maintains close ties with certain Greek companies.

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Declaration of war on the Chinese

One of her topics is the port of Piraeus. During the Greek financial crisis leased to the port authority the port in 2009 for 35 years to the Chinese state-owned company China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO). Damit hat China control of one of the most important ports in the eastern Mediterranean.

The USA and its ambassador don't like that. In February 2026, Guilfoyle said that another port needed to be built "to counter Chinese interests in Piraeus." She will fight for it every day and "without apologizing for it".

Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to the port of Piraeus in 2019. In order to reduce Chinese influence in the Mediterranean, US Ambassador Guilfoyle wants another port in the regionBild: Li Xueren/Xinhua/picture alliance

Guilfoyle repeatedly reiterates that she is fighting "day and night" for American interests in the region. In addition to the port, she is particularly committed to the so-called “vertical corridor”. US liquid natural gas is to be transported from Greece to Europe through this corridor.

The Greek government supports this project. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis recently emphasized that the corridor is an extremely important project that strengthens energy security and enhances Greece's role in the energy supply of other countries.

"We will never tolerate something like that"

When asked to comment on the WSJ report on September 28, Marinakis stressed that the relationship between Greece and the US is now "closer and more stable than ever" and spoke of a strategic partnership based on mutual respect.

When asked about the alleged conversation between Energy Minister Papastavrou and Ambassador Guilfoyle, Marinakis said that there was never any threat to the Greek government - "something like that would never be tolerated".

No “blank checks” to the USA

With this statement, Marinakis was unable to convince the outraged opposition parties, who had expected a more critical statement from the government.

The social democratic Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) stressed that Greece is an "independent and sovereign democracy" and as such must act "towards all, without any exceptions"..

The Greek Left Coalition (ELAS), the left-wing alliance founded by ex-Prime Minister in May Alexis Tsipras, pointed out the danger of a policy of "taken for granted ally" and of "blank checks" towards the USA. “Red lines” in Greece’s relationship with the USA are “urgently necessary”.".

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) reiterated its opposition to plans for the US liquefied natural gas project and announced demonstrations during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming visit to Athens from October 6-8.

"A country does not become geopolitically stronger by increasing its dependence on a great power, especially when that great power has openly replaced diplomacy with economic interests," said independent MP Alexis Charitsis in a post on X.

However, there has so far been no great outrage among the Greek public over the incident.

Bali Foot DW correspondent in Greece

@Deutsche Welle (inoffiziell) — 2026-10-01 14:29:48

US-Botschafterin deutet Einmischung bei Regierungswechseln durch die USA an: Empörung und Dementi

Hat Botschafterin Kimberly Guilfoyle in Griechenland einen Regierungswechsel durch die Einmischung der USA angedeutet? Während Griechenlands Regierung den explosiven Bericht bestreitet, fordert die Opposition Aufklärung.
US-Botschafterin deutet Einmischung bei Regierungswechseln durch die USA an: Empörung und Dementi

#usa #greece
#KimberlyGuilfoyle
#2026