US ambassador under scrutiny over $6 billion Greek-Albanian gas deal

The Wall Street Journal has detailed the involvement of US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle in helping Greek infrastructure firm Aktor secure a $6 billion energy deal with Albania.

In March 2026, Guilfoyle met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana, accompanied by an Aktor executive and lobbyist Christos Marafatsos. A month after the initial meeting, Guilfoyle returned to Tirana for the signing of the agreement to supply Albania with natural gas.

The investigation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest surrounding Marafatsos, who serves as a close advisor to the US ambassador while simultaneously working as a lobbyist representing commercial energy interests in the region. Neither the ambassador nor regional officials have publicly addressed the report's allegations regarding diplomatic influence in private commercial negotiations.

Sources: Gazeta Tema, Koha.