Blinken: Greece becomes main centre in region for US military groups

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Greece and the US have been able to strengthen defence relations since 2021, while Athens has become the main centre in the region for expanding US military groups.

Blinken made the remarks at the opening of the fourth round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue on February 21, according to the Greek ERT TV channel.

In turn, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said at the beginning of the meeting that close cooperation between Greece and the US has become even stronger amid the special military operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.

“This is very important for our relations,” Dendias said.

The Greek foreign minister noted that the strengthening of cooperation between Athens and Washington contributes to the interests of the two countries.

“We have common values, common respect for international law,” he said.

In turn, Blinken pointed out that the dialogue between the two countries reflects the cooperation that has been maintained for more than 20 years.

“Today’s discussion builds off of the last Strategic Dialogue that we held in 2021, which I remember very well.  And among other important steps, as you noted, we amended the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement between our countries, strengthening our preparedness and shared security by allowing our troops to train together in new ways and in more places,” the US Secretary of State added. 

“Greece has become the main hub in the region for the US military factions that are being expanded here in the region. We’ve made similar investments in other parts of Greece, including $123 million in infrastructure improvements in the Souda Bay and Larissa. This port has been vital to reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank since President Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine,” he said.