Due to the strong historical, political, cultural and religious ties between them, Greece and the United States today enjoy excellent diplomatic relations and consider each other an ally. Today Greece is one of the United States's closest allies. Diplomatic relations between Greece and the United States were established in the 1830s after the Greek War of Independence. Greece and the United States have long-standing historical, political, and cultural ties based on a common western heritage, and participation as Allies during World War I, World War II, the Cold War and the War on Terror. Relations were tense during the years of Greece's military dictatorship. The governments of the two countries cooperate closely in the areas of finance, energy, commerce, technology, academics, sciences, judiciary, intelligence and military, as well as through many multilateral organizations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the United Nations; they are both founding members of the latter. The United States is the largest foreign investor in Greece; direct U.S. foreign investment in Greece was about $4.5 billion in 2006. Americans are consistently well liked in Greece. 66% of Greeks viewed Americans favorably in 2016. Back in 2005 it were 67%. Americans have a very positive opinion of Greece as well. 54% of the American people view Greece positively, while only 4% view it negatively, making Greece one of the 25 most liked countries in the US. History From 1825 to 1828, the U.S. Navy conducted anti-piracy operations against Greek pirates in the Aegean Sea. The first draft of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 included praise of the Greek rebels in their revolt against the Ottoman Empire. American opinion strongly supported Greece. However, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams strongly objected and that passage was dropped. The final text indicated the U.S. government had no intention of interfering in European affairs. However, as Angelo Repousis shows, private citizens including philanthropists, missionaries, and political activists, inspired by a vision of ancient Greece, were eager to become involved in Greek affairs. On November 9, 1837, the United States recognized the independence of Greece when the American Minister at London signed a treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the Greek Minister at London. That act marked the first negotiation of the United States with Greece and represented the U.S. recognition of