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Upgrading the largest US military base in the southeastern Mediterranean, namely the Souda Base in Crete, appears to be the key to further strengthening relations between Greece and the United States. This seems to be the dominant element of the contacts that have been taking place since yesterday and that today culminate between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Mike Pompeo. The issue was also discussed in detail yesterday by Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos.
After all, it is anything but a secret that the government is “betting” a lot on meetings with the State Department representative to strengthen its position towards Turkey. Especially since the stance of the most important institutional spokesperson for Western politics outside the United States, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, has only created positive impressions on the Greek government. In fact, it should be noted that the day before yesterday, the US Secretary of State had contact with the Secretary General of NATO, where the need for unity of the alliance was discussed, a field that was not lacking in the Greek-Turkish conflict in the southeast of the Mediterranean .
In the briefing given yesterday to the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, the Minister of Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, did not hide that the issue of the Souda naval base –as well as the military relationship between the two countries– was the subject of Mike Pompeo’s talks with the Prime Minister. but also the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, together with the Deputy Minister of Defense, Alkiviadis Stefani, in the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.
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The Minister of National Defense
As Nikos Panagiotopoulos characteristically put it, the strategic relationship between Greece and the United States “is reflected, mainly, through the defense cooperation agreement between Greece and the United States.” and that, in a few days, it will be renewed or, rather, its next modification will take place. Because every time it is renewed, this is called an “Agreement Amendment”. This is something that – I suppose – was today (yesterday) the object of negotiation or conversation between the co-managers. “Because this Agreement is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, even though most of it refers to defense cooperation, in the field of defense.”
In fact, it should be noted that at yesterday’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, two important strategic cooperation agreements between Greece and the US were ratified, symbolically on the occasion of Pompeo’s visit. They refer to issues related to the supply needs of the Armed Forces of both sides. In fact, Nikos Panagiotopoulos pointed out that, among other things, the supply of Greek combat aircraft is planned, an issue that he described as of special importance.
The importance of Souda
Especially for the naval base, Nikos Panagiotopoulos pointed out that “the Americans attach great importance to the strategic importance of Souda. I think the Greek side also attaches this importance.” In fact, the issue of its update was debated – based on what was said by the Minister of Defense – with the members of the Greek delegation to NATO, while he was included in the topics on which the Committee on Arms Programs and Contracts of Parliament met a few days ago.
Nikos Panagiotopoulos also stressed regarding the base that “the Americans are already using it – I would say – in a very intensive way” and that is why the Greek government intends to strengthen its own department. In this way, said the Defense Minister, Greece “will make its presence felt, mainly its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, then, having the capabilities of the Salamina Naval Base, it will have to develop a similar system.” That is to say, a substantially functional naval base, in all respects, also in Crete. And this will be done by improving the facilities of Souda. ”
He also stated that “in the planning of the Ministry of National Defense, funds have been provided in the program, which we generally announce as weapons. In essence, however, it is a long-term, 15-year program of gradual but substantial improvement of the Armed Forces. This provides funds for infrastructure upgrades. The main problem of updating the infrastructure in the country will have to do with updating Souda’s infrastructure, so that it can be a fully organized and operational Naval Station. A Naval Station capable of supporting, permanently and not occasionally, units, surface ships and submarines of our Navy ”. In fact, Nikos Panagiotopoulos pointed out that “the relevant decision was taken, following a relevant suggestion of the General Staff and General Staff, the Navy, General Staff in this case, to the political leadership. The political leadership accepted it and we are moving forward to include it in our general planning ”.
From the last visit of N. Panagiotopoulos (Minister of Foreign Affairs) and the United States Ambassador Tz. Payat at the Souda naval base in June
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From the position of Defense Minister, although he proposed the benefits that the Greek side will have, it is clear that the 15-year upgrade program of the Souda Naval Base will be done in consultation with the US side. In fact, the projects it contemplates aim to contribute to the improvement of the armed forces of both states based on this basis.
At the moment, it is clear that the Souda Naval Base is just as important to the geopolitical ambitions of the United States as it was when American forces operated in the Middle East. In other words, the periods of interventions that followed the attack on the Twin Towers.
In addition to being able to house and supply combat aircraft, the Souda Naval Base is primarily the US “observatory” in the region. After all, it is also the headquarters of America’s “spy” plane. In addition, the Souda base is crucial for communication and supply for the US 6th Fleet, whose main field of action is mainly the Mediterranean. It is equally important for the repair and maintenance of naval aircraft, maintenance, mine dismantling, and storage of conventional ammunition.
Finally, it is a single strategic line with Britain’s US base in Cyprus but also with the US base located in Incirlik, Turkey. For this reason, it is estimated that the improvement of the Naval base in Souda also affects the balances with the neighboring country.
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