Funding was approved for the creation of the Navy’s second major naval station, which will significantly strengthen the country’s armor
In the Navy the following paradox applies. Although Greece is an island country, it has only one large naval station. And this is not something that happened. This is a remnant of the Junta, which gathered the Fleet in Salamis in order to have full control and to prevent new “naval movements”.
The starting point for ending this paradox was the New Structure of the Armed Forces, designed by GEETHA from 2020 and approved by KYSEA.
So, the rudimentary Naval Station of Crete, in Souda, is being upgraded and in a short period of time it is expected to become not just the second heart of the Navy, but a center of operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Parliament decided last week to approve funding of 188 million euros for the execution of the necessary works for the Mediterranean naval station to be completed. Despite the fact that the financing foresees the partial payment of the money over a period of 7 years, it is estimated that the procedures will be able to be accelerated and it will be ready perhaps even by 2025, although the bet was for the end of 2023.
The creation of a “Mediterranean Fleet” and the upgrading of the Crete Naval Station, through the creation of a full installation, will “hit” the Turkish naval station of Aksaz, East of Rhodes, on the coast of Asia Minor, and Turkey will feel a permanent maritime pressure.
The ultimate goal is the creation of two Fleets, Aegean and Mediterranean, with the first based in Salamis and the second in Souda.
In fact, the forecast is to be able to accommodate warships of large displacement – such as the Ticonderoga – and even an aircraft carrier.
