WASHINGTON, DC —
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias signed an extension of an upgraded Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) between the two countries, October 14, 2021.
According to Secretary Antony Blinken, “This update will allow the agreement to remain in force indefinitely, and it enables U.S. forces in Greece to train and operate from additional locations.”
“Greece is a faithful, dependable, and trusted NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States,” American Hellenic Institute President Nick Larigakis said. “The signing of the MDCA renewal, which includes an amendment to allow for U.S. forces to train in additional locations and to stay indefinitely, represents a zenith between U.S.-Greece defense cooperation and overall relations between the two countries. For years, AHI has worked actively to promote U.S.-Greece defense cooperation and collaboration to the Congress, State Department, and White House, for example, by commissioning a white paper on the importance of Souda Bay. We are grateful the U.S.-Greece defense relationship has been acknowledged properly, and furthermore, institutionalized at the highest levels.”
Secretary Blinken also stated in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, “The United States recognizes the vital role of Naval Support Activity (NSA) and other Greek installations, at which the United States may train or operate on the mainland or islands, to ensuring our common defense objectives, and it thanks Greece for its continued support for the United States’ expanded military presence in Greece.”
Blinken added, “We greatly appreciate the Greek government’s steadfast commitment to dialogue with its neighbors and its adherence to resolving disputes peacefully through diplomacy and in accordance with international law…We also firmly believe in respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with the international law of the sea.”
During the signing of the agreement, Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias stated, “In the Eastern Mediterranean, where Greece is facing a casus -belli, a threat with war if it exercises its sovereign rights and, I have to say, Greece is facing daily provocation. Greece is committed to resolve disputes with diplomacy and always in accordance with international law. Over the past two years, we have concluded agreements on the delimitation of sea zones with Italy and Egypt, and agreed with Albania to defer this issue to the International Court of Justice. We very highly appreciate your firm belief that sovereign rights should be respected in accordance with international Law of the Sea, and we hope that all countries of the world will embrace this principle.”