The Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos received today, Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at the Ministry of National Defense, a 7-member Delegation of the US House of Representatives (House Armed Services Committee – HASC Delegation), headed by the Chairman of the Defense Affairs Committee Mr. Adam Smith (Adam Smith), which is visiting Greece from 02 to 05 October. The Delegation was accompanied by the US Ambassador in Athens Mr. George Tsounis.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias and the Chief GEETHA General Konstantinos Floros.

During the meeting, the importance of the strategic defense partnership between Greece and the USA, and the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) as well as its two Amendment Protocols (2019 and 2021), to strengthen the security of the two countries and security and stability in the wider region.

Greece’s role as a strong, stable and reliable ally and the geopolitical value of Souda and Alexandroupoli were also underlined, and the importance of investments to upgrade their facilities and infrastructure was highlighted.

The Minister of National Defense also referred to the possibilities of mutually beneficial cooperation between the Greek defense industry and American defense industries, taking into account the capabilities, comparative advantage and know-how available to our country.

Regarding the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Panagiotopoulos emphasized the importance of avoiding destabilizing, transgressive and revisionist behaviors, which violate fundamental principles of International Law and the principle of good neighborliness, while the developments of the war in Ukraine and the need continuing to provide defense and humanitarian aid to counter the Russian invasion.