1 week ago
6
The statement implicit the supposed imaginable withdrawal of US subject forces from Alexandroupoli successful northeastern Greece, has highlighted the captious relation of the larboard successful supporting NATO’s eastbound flank.
Turkey, which is successful favour of such a withdrawal, adjacent attempted to take the statement to the White House, where US President Donald Trump dismissed speculation of immoderate such plans.
The larboard is besides vital for NATO, offering an alternate way to Eastern Europe, bypassing the Turkish-controlled Bosporus Strait, which tin beryllium closed during times of conflict.
Kathimerini tin study that the Americans program to put successful bid to strengthen their footprint successful the region. The treatment had already started successful the fall, during the presidency of Joe Biden.
Over the past 5 years, Alexandroupoli has go an indispensable hub for some commercialized and subject operations, peculiarly since 2021. The 2019 modification of the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) opened the larboard to US subject use, granting precedence entree without exclusivity.
This strategic determination has facilitated the transport of subject vehicles, helicopters and unit to NATO’s Eastern European allies, including Romania, Bulgaria and beyond. In addition, the larboard has go a cardinal logistical nexus successful supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing war. In 2021, the MDCA was further expanded, with the inclusion of the Yanoulis subject campy successful the Evros region, to accommodate US forces successful lawsuit of a larger mobilization.
The larboard has proven indispensable for the transportation of subject equipment, with US ships transporting ample numbers of vehicles and unit from 2020 to 2024. In 2023, for example, 7 US ships delivered 296 soldiers, 4,800 vehicles and 19 helicopters.
Greek (GR) · 
English (US) ·