of Georgia Garantziotis – SOURCE: PARASKINIO – [Μετατροπή σε κείμενο:
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The Hellenic Armed Forces remain on heightened operational readiness and with continuous exercises on land, air and sea throughout the territory, sending the message – to anyone who wants to “come suddenly at night” – that there is no complacency.
With relations between Ankara and Washington going through a lasting crisis, the US is strengthening its cooperation with Greece, recognizing our country as a security and stability partner in the wider region. In this context, a Greek-American tank exercise was completed in Xanthi, at the Tank Shooting Range in Petrochori, as well as a Tank Competition between Armored Units of the 4th Army Corps with LEO2 tanks (A4 and HEL) and C/1-18 Infantry Tanks US Regiment, but also with M1A1 ABRAMS tanks.
The Ulama were evaluated in operational procedures with measurable objective criteria, which among other things focused on issues of small-scale tactics, technical execution of shots as well as technical issues of tanks. The final ranking of the Ulama was derived from a combination of the time it took each crew to complete the tests in relation to the individual rating of their skills and especially their marksmanship. The Greek “black caps” were once again this year on the highest step and gained significant experience alongside the Americans. Throughout the competition, the effort, passion and knowledge of the subjects from the contestants, as well as their high level of training and operational readiness, were particularly evident. The exercise was attended as observers by Egypt, Armenia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Italy, Cyprus and Romania, as well as the officers of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces, as well as representatives of the Local Government .
At the Souda Air Base, the Greek-Saudi exercise “Falcon Eye III” is underway, which will last about 10 days, until November 18, 2022. Six F-15SA fighter jets of the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force landed on Wednesday in Souda for joint exercises with fighter aircraft of our Air Force within the national airspace.
A few days earlier, a Saudi Arabian multi-mission aircraft had landed in Souda, carrying ground personnel of various specialties, material equipment and additional airmen. During the joint training, it is planned to carry out, among other things, missions of Air Superiority – Supremacy complex air operations, as well as protection-attack of targets on land and sea.
The arrival of the Saudi fighters takes place in the context of the bilateral Military Cooperation between Greece and Saudi Arabia and the coordinated effort of the competent bodies of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia.
Athens, in the midst of a crisis with Turkey, is forging alliances and strengthening its relations with Arab countries that wish to have a presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Athens-Riyadh bilateral relations became stronger with the Patriot artillery mission to Saudi Arabia (with the blessings of the US) last year, but also with the joint military actions that the two countries have developed in recent years.
Sources from the Ministry of Defense explained to “P” that “our country practices very active military diplomacy, having taken a key role in promoting defense initiatives and creating bilateral and multilateral forms of cooperation. The goal is for Greece to have a high footprint in defense and security in the wider region. Results are produced when we strengthen relations with friendly and allied countries, with whom we share common perceptions and views regarding the issue of security and defense in our region. Saudi Arabia is one of them.”
The Navy is also on constant vigilance. The surface units and submarines of the fleet monitor all Turkish movements and control every part of the Aegean.
Our warships are constantly participating in allied exercises and missions. A Navy frigate is in Cyprus for the multinational exercise “Nemesis 2022” in which, in addition to Greece, the United States, Israel, France, Italy, Egypt and the United Kingdom participated.
The multinational exercise “Niris 22” is also underway. Almost the entire fleet went out to the Aegean again for joint exercises with NATO’s permanent naval force in the Mediterranean SNMG-2 and other allied countries, such as Israel. This is an important exercise planned by the Navy, while activities are planned in the wider maritime area of the Cretan, Myrtos and South Aegean Seas.
