US Ambassador Guilfoyle Tours NATO's Strategic Souda Bay Naval Base

Tuesday, 12 May 2026/Source: Haniotika Nea/1 min read

US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle visited Chania on Tuesday, arriving by private flight at Daskalogiannis International Airport at 4:00 pm. Her itinerary included a visit to Souda Bay, home to the NATO naval base and one of the largest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, followed by a dinner with regional and municipal officials. The visit carries diplomatic significance given the strategic importance of Souda Bay to US-Greek relations. For tourists in the Chania area on Tuesday evening, some minor traffic adjustments or increased security presence may have been noticeable near the port and city center, though no major disruptions to normal activity were reported. Chania remains fully open to visitors. The old town, Venetian harbor, and surrounding beaches are accessible as usual. Souda Bay itself is a functioning military facility and is not open to the public.