What does America want from strengthening its presence in the Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean?

Recent months have witnessed an intensification of the US military presence on Greek soil, especially the areas bordering the eastern Mediterranean, which has been experiencing fierce conflict for years after announcing the discovery of huge gas and oil resources at its bottom. Which turned Greece into an American base.

Near the Turkish border, and specifically just 14 kilometers from the Maritsa River that separates the Turkish-Greek border, the US Army continues to transport its military equipment consisting of thousands of tanks and armored vehicles as well as hundreds of helicopters to a huge military base it established in the Greek region of Dada Agach "Alexandroupoli" overlooking the Greek On the Aegean Sea, in a move that Turkish experts described as exciting in light of the Turkish-American dispute and the escalation of the crisis in the eastern Mediterranean with Greece and its allies.

In light of the military and defense agreements concluded between Washington and Athens and the subsequent growing American presence on Greek lands in general, and the areas bordering the eastern Mediterranean in particular, questions were raised about the motives that made the United States prefer to use Greek bases more extensively at the expense of the Turkish Incirlik base. Despite their strategic alliance in NATO.

American militarization of Greek lands and islands

In mid-October, the United States renewed the military and defense cooperation agreement signed between it and Greece since 1990 (Reuters)

For a period of 5 renewable years, the United States renewed in mid-October the military and defense cooperation agreement signed between it and Greece since 1990, and the two countries not only renewed the agreement, but also expanded it in a way that allows for the intensification of the American presence on Greek soil in bases such as “Alexandroupoli.” and Souda, on the island of Crete, which also allowed the use of Greek bases when needed.

Following the updated agreement signed by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during a visit to Washington with his American counterpart Anthony Blinken, the Greek and Turkish media reported pictures and videos showing the arrival of very large numbers of American military equipment to bases near Turkish territory, as well as the allocation of bases to the US Navy. .

For his part, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that "the new Defense Cooperation Agreement will contribute to security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and beyond." He announced that Washington would conduct joint exercises with Greece in Western Thrace.

Erdogan: Greece is turning into a US base

In response to these moves, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Thursday, November 11, 2021, that Greece, by establishing a new base in the Dada Agac region, has turned into a US military base.

He added, "There are many American bases in Greece. When we put them all together, a picture emerges that Greece has turned into an American military base." "When we ask why they build all these bases with Biden and the parties involved, they give evasive answers, they don't act honestly," he continued.

He stated that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to lie and does not act honestly, and thus does not inspire confidence in the region.

It is noteworthy that Erdogan had conveyed his discomfort with the US presence near the Turkish border during his meeting with Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit held in Brussels late last month. In response to journalists' questions, Erdogan said, "Mr. Biden and even Mr. Macron have told us that we are disturbed by this issue, and that creating such a base here harms us and our people."

East mediterranean conflict

Although the American presence on Greek soil dates back to decades ago, the recent American moves and their intensity, especially at the “Alexandroupoli” base near the Turkish border and overlooking the Aegean Sea, next to the naval bases on the Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean, open the door to speculation wide open. Tensions remained in the eastern Mediterranean and around Cyprus.

It is not enough to look at the American moves from the perspective of the Eastern Mediterranean conflict only, but the American motives must be taken and analyzed in one package, especially since the region is witnessing great changes, perhaps the biggest and most dangerous for the United States is the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, where Washington is one of the strongest supporters of Kiev at this stage, As well as deterring the growing Russian and Chinese influence in the Mediterranean.

While some claim that Washington found in Greece and its bases an alternative to the Turkish "Incirlik" base in light of the continuing Turkish-American dispute and Ankara's continuous threats to close the base in the face of the Americans after the outbreak of the "S400" crisis and the expulsion of Turkey from the American F-35 fighter project. This is what Athens exploited to strengthen its alliance with Washington and request its inclusion in the stealth fighter program instead of Turkey.