U.S. Stays Cool, Hands-off in Greek Eurozone Crisis

Washington (PNA/Sputnik) — Faced with growing commitments to prop up the Iraqi government, fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as well as provide increased military support for Ukraine, U.S. policymakers are stepping back and letting the European Commission in Brussels and the governments of Germany and France take center-stage in dealing with Greece’s troubled economy.

“The Obama administration is staying on the sidelines of a financial showdown that could upend the world’s financial markets,” the influential Washington political newspaper The Hill reported on Monday.

On Monday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest advised Greek and European leaders to seek a compromise agreement in direct negotiations, but he avoided suggested any active role for the United States.

“But beyond that urging, there appears to be little role for the United States in the matter,” the Hill report said.

Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of the European Union to resolve the problem, Earnest said at the daily White House press briefing.

On Sunday, the European conditions to bail out Greece were rejected by more 61 percent of Greek voters, and the rejection was also seen as a national vote of confidence in Greece’s left wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

“[T]he United States has been left largely on the periphery, serving at best an advisory role to international leaders searching for some sort of compromise,” The Hill observed.

Recent Obama administration statements stressed that the US economy has only minor ties to Greece, and was almost completely insulated from any financial crisis there. (PNA/Sputnik) JBP/SSC