Greece, US sign 5-year renewal of Mutual Defense & Cooperation Agreement

Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the five-year upgraded renewal of the two countries’ Mutual Defense & Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) on Thursday.

The two ministers signed the MDCA in a special ceremony at the Benjamin Franklin diplomatic reception room in the Harry S. Truman Federal Building, at the headquarters of the Department of State.

The five-year renewal will allow Washington to invest in Greece strategically and geopolitically, said Greek diplomatic sources.

PM Mitsotakis welcomes agreement

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the signing of the Greece-US Mutual Defense & Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) in a statement on Thursday.

The premier said that the signing of the five-year upgraded agreement “seals the quantitative and qualitative upgrade of Greek-American relations.” It is also “a resounding vote of confidence in Greece as a pillar of stability and security in our troubled region,” he added.

The US is choosing to enhance its strategic presence in crucial parts of Greece, from Evros in the north to Crete in the south, noted Mitsotakis. It is also investing in the upgrade of existing military facilities in the country, and “is committing to help Greece tackle any threat or challenge.”

Signing the MDCA is the result of the government’s methodical and frequently unobtrusive policy over the last two years, the premier noted.

Source: amna.gr