As part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the US House of Representatives approved an amendment Wednesday to examine a plan to expand the US military presence and construct bases on Greek islands.
The acquis of the 2021 Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) provides, among other things, for a multi-year duration and greater funding from Congress, which is reflected in the amendment which proposes the expansion of military presence on existing bases and the exploration of the possibility of placing new ones on islands.
The phrase “throughout Greece” was added to the MDCA in 2021 to describe in which geographic locations new bases could be established. This specific quotation was utilized by Greece to recommend Limnos and, most crucially, Skyros as islands that may house a US military presence, and also to stress the need for a base at Alexandroupoli in northern Greece.
Konstantinos Floros, the chief of the armed forces’ general staff, had suggested similar measures at the military level.
The amendment provides that the report must be filed within two months of the signing of the final bill and must include, firstly, an analysis of the potential for additional bases or an expanded US military presence in Greece, particularly on the islands.
Finally it must also provide an assessment of the status of security cooperation in accordance with the requirements of the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021.
Source: Ekathimerini.com
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