Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan met with Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis at the Pentagon to reaffirm the defense relationship between the two nations.

The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, including regional security in the Balkans and Black Sea, and the regional effects of great power competition with Russia and China. They agreed to continue working together on NATO burden-sharing and defense modernization priorities, Pentagon officials said.

Shanahan applauded efforts by Greece and North Macedonia to implement the Prespa agreement, which will ultimately result in the expansion of the NATO alliance.

The U.S. military-to-military relationship with Greece — a nation considered the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization — continues to be among the strongest in Southeast Europe. Here's why:

1. Greece is a key NATO ally, strategically located near the Black Sea, North Africa, Middle East and Western Balkans.
2. The presence of about 650 forces at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay is the cornerstone of the U.S.-Greece bilateral relationship. Souda Bay is an air and sea logistics hub and the largest deep-water port in the Mediterranean.
3. The United States and Greece have a robust military-to-military relationship; the two nations' armed forces regularly conduct joint and multinational exercises and training together.
4. At NATO, Greece is one of the few allies that has exceeded 2% of its gross domestic product on defense spending. Greece also contributes to coalition efforts, most notably to the NATO Kosovo Force.
5. Greece is a major foreign military sales customer for the U.S., with around $10 billion in current purchase commitments. Greece signed a $1.5 billion deal in 2018 to upgrade its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

Source: defense.gov

Antonis Sykaris: Conqueror of four of the world’s highest peaks US parents increasingly name their babies “Giannis” after The Greek Freak