In a move that underscores growing congressional interest in Greece, a bipartisan bill supporting the US-Greece relationship and reinforcing its strategic partnership, was introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday.

The “United States-Greece Security Cooperation Reporting Act” would require the secretary of defense to report to Congress on the deepening security relationship between the United States and Greece and identify new opportunities to strengthen it.

The bill mandates that the Department of Defense, in coordination with US European Command, submit the report within 120 days of the act’s enactment. The proposed review would mark one of the most detailed congressional assessments to date of the US defense posture in Greece, reflecting Athens’ increasingly strategic role on NATO’s southeast European flank amid mounting regional tensions.

The bill requires a thorough breakdown of current US basing rights under the updated US-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA), which was amended on October 14, 2021. This includes a detailed inventory of American military activities and investments on Greek territory since that date.

Particular attention is given to Alexandroupoli, which is now considered a critical logistics and transit hub for NATO forces supporting Ukraine and for broader European energy diversification efforts. It calls for a projection of future US investment needs in Alexandroupoli and directs the Pentagon to examine the potential for additional US military presence on Greek islands, a sensitive yet consistently relevant issue given the shifting dynamics in the region.

The bill also calls for an assessment of progress made under the FY2022 NDAA, which expanded US-Greece security cooperation, authorized increased military training and aimed to deepen defense-industrial collaboration between the two allies.

More specifically, it requests:

A detailed description of the basing rights granted to the United States under the US-Greece MDCA, as amended on October 14, 2021.

A comprehensive account of US military activities and infrastructure investments at the sites covered by the MDCA since the 2021 amendment.

A forward-looking projection of infrastructure and logistical investments required to support current and future US basing operations at the port and facilities of Alexandroupoli.

An analysis of the feasibility and strategic value of establishing additional US military bases or expanding the US presence in other parts of Greece, particularly on Greek islands

An assessment of the current status and implementation of bilateral defense cooperation initiatives as outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

It was introduced by Representatives Grace Meng, Gus Bilirakis, Dina Titus and Nicole Malliotakis, leaders on the Congressional Hellenic Caucus.

Source: Ekathimerini.com