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The speech of the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias during the conclusion of the joint exercise of the Hellenic Armed Forces with the USA “Poseidon’s Rage” was very important as he unfolded the plans of the country as well as the goals it has for the future.
The following is the speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias:
Ladies and gentlemen,
I must say that it is a great honor for me to be here today as the “Poseidon’s Rage 22” exercise comes to an end.
Greek and American pilots trained together over the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean in a wide range of scenarios and missions, but with a single goal: to maintain peace, stability and democracy.
This training is being held for the second consecutive year.
In recent years, Greece and the US have significantly upgraded their defense cooperation, including two Protocols, which I had the honor to sign with my American counterparts. We have added to our original Agreement new military installations on mainland Greece. And I have to say that the Russian invasion of Ukraine proved us right in this strategic prediction.
The port of Alexandroupolis has become an important entry point for the deployment of American forces, as well as an important energy hub.
Greece and the USA once again stood by each other to preserve our fundamental values, despite the unprecedented attack they received from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The US and Greece both sent humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine and both imposed heavy sanctions on Russia, as did all of our Allies, or rather, to be honest with you, almost all of them with one exception. But, let’s leave that for another time.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The basic truth is that our historically troubled region cannot stand any more provocative, aggressive and revisionist actions and attitudes. We must work together to maintain peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
Greece has been moving in this direction in recent years. And in this spirit, we signed the Agreements on the delimitation of maritime zones with Italy and Egypt.
We agreed with Albania to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. We created the East Mediterranean Gas Forum.
We signed Agreements with France and the United Arab Emirates. We have developed numerous multilateral cooperation schemes with our trusted regional partners, and I must say, including the 3+1 cooperation with Israel and Cyprus – as Israel and Cyprus are the “3”, plus the “1”, the US . And if you allow me to express the hope that this will become “4” as soon as possible.
Over the years, many F15 (“Eagles”) and F16 (“Fighting Falcons”) have been trained at this base. And this year we had the pleasure of having the F35 (“Lightnings”) for the first time.
I would like to point out that this was the first live fire training of F35s in Europe – as well as the first deployment of an entire squadron to another base. This is particularly important as more and more European Allies choose the F35 fighter jet for their own air forces, including us, Greece.
So let me express the hope that as soon as possible we will see American F35s training together with Greek F35s. And our F16s and Rafales are here to mark the occasion.
Will you allow me to end with a remark in Greek:
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am extremely proud to be here before you today. Not only for the excellent machines behind me, which ensure air supremacy in our region. But also for the excellent human potential that is in front of me.
Through constant crises, self-sacrifice, effort, self-denial and all of us based on the backwardness of the Greek people, we are building the most powerful Greece we have ever seen” concluded the speech of the Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
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