A rare diplomatic storm has erupted between the United States and Greece, one of Israel's closest allies in Europe, after the American ambassador made an extraordinary threat to senior Greek officials, the Wall Street Journal reported in a detailed investigation.
The incident took place in March during an official dinner in Athens attended by senior Greek government ministers and American representatives. Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece and a former Fox News host, was discussing the collapse of Romania's government when she turned to the Greek officials present and said: "We can do this to any country we want. We can do it here too."
The ambassador's words, which clearly suggested that the United States had a hand in bringing down the Romanian government and could interfere in Greek internal politics as well, drew an immediate and furious response. Greek Energy Minister Stavros Pappas shot back in front of the stunned guests, making clear that America cannot replace the government in Greece, which is a sovereign government elected by the public at the ballot box.
The ambassador's lawyer, for his part, denies the way the exchange was described in the report.
