Support for NATO border operations
Military deal: US reportedly sends 24 fighter jets to Greece
Athens. The America increasing their presence in the eastern Mediterranean. By the end of July, ten US Air Force F-35 stealth jets and 14 F-15 fighter-bombers are to be transferred to a base in western Crete (Souda Bay) – along with about 500 pilots and technicians. The Athens newspaper “Kathimerini” reported this on Wednesday, citing Defense Ministry sources in Athens.
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The deployment is based on a new agreement on military cooperation between Greece and the US, which must be ratified by the parliament in Athens this Thursday (May 12). From Souda Bay, the US Air Force could operate in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea. There is also a large US naval base there.
Ratification is a formality, in fact the agreement is already in force. In effect, this is a five-year extension of the cooperation agreement already in place. It is automatically extended if none of the contracting parties object.
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In addition to Souda Bay, the U.S. uses two bases in central Greece and the port of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece for logistical support to U.S. military operations along NATO’s borders with Ukraine.
RND/dpa
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