Ministry of Foreign Affairs: clarifications for the Memorandum of Cooperation with the US – “No involvement in the war in Ukraine”

The two Cooperations between the Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defence, which were submitted to the House for ratification have provoked reactions. The two Memorandums may even have been approved by majority of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defence, in the presence of YFETH Ioannis Kefalogiannis, but some react. In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proceeding with clarifications regarding the publications on the Memorandums submitted to the House for the placement of the Hellenic Republic’s Personnel Defence in the US Special Operations Administration and the posting – placing of Greek Personnel Defence in USAREUR Units (the American Forces in Europe): “Memorandums fully promote national interest and are done at the initiative of the Greek side and contribute to the consolidation of strategic defence partnership”. Greece – USA and the international consolidation of our country’s role as a factor of peace and stability in the wider region. The possibility of placing two Greek Military officers in positions of the US Special Operations Administration, as well as the possibility of placing three Greek Military in USAREUR Units (the American Forces in Europe) is envisaged. Aim to gain valuable experience in the respective Staffs, as well as necessary expertise to reform the Armed Forces in our country, in order to meet the needs of the 21st century. This is the exercise of a unilateral right of Greece, as they are placed on a non-reciprocal basis and the US does not claim to place similar personnel in the Armed Forces of our country. The connotation process began, regarding the agreement to place two Greek Military officers in positions in the US Special Operations Administration in 2019, while for the placement – posting of three Greek Military to USAREUR Units (the American Forces in Europe) began in 2015, under the rule of SYRIZA/ANEL. And the second Agreement was deemed to be of national interest by this Government and the process of its completion continued. No matter whether Greek officers are involved in U.S. military operations or “in involvement in the war in Ukraine” exists, as is apparent both from the time of the start of talks with the US (2015 and 2019 respectively), but also from the explicit safeguards that exist. Articles 3.5 and 3.6 of both Monuments explicitly state that the staff placed will not participate in exercises, political-military actions and service placements.”