On Thursday morning, the GETHA chief General Konstantinos Floros welcomed the chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC), Austrian General Robert Brieger, as part of his official visit to Greece.
The president of the EU Military Commission, before his transfer to the “Papagos” Camp, laid a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.
During the talks, which took place in a particularly warm atmosphere, issues related to the prevailing situation in the broader geostrategic environment were discussed, with particular emphasis on latest developments in Ukraine and Israelas well as the security challenges in Syria, Libya, Lebanon and Kosovo.
Also discussed was the evolution of EU missions in the Sahel region, as well as migration and refugee flows that lead to significant social and economic challenges, as well as security challenges.
In addition, they referred to the progress in implementing the main objectives of its Institutional Text “Strategic Compass(Strategic Compass) to strengthen the EU’s security and defense policy, with a focus on the development of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) for the development of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) of the EU in dealing with crises outside its borders, in the context of achieving Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2025.
The Head of the Greek Armed Forces pointed out the contribution of the Greek Armed Forces to the decisive role that Greece plays as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. He underlined the ever-upgrading military relationship with most Arab countries and Israel, as well as with all Balkan countries, aimed at creating a network that promotes peace and good neighborly relations in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.
He placed particular emphasis on the excellent military relations of our country with France and the USA, and noted the tripartite regional cooperation programs in which the ED participates, namely Greece – Cyprus – Israel which is strengthened as a “3+1” scheme » with the participation of the USA, Greece – Cyprus – Egypt, Greece – Cyprus – Jordan and Greece – Cyprus – Armenia.
On this basis, he underlined the recent development of American and French means in our country to carry out evacuation operations in the Middle East region, and pointed out both the contribution of Greece with humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, as well as the recent dispatch of a C-130 aircraft with pharmaceutical and medical material for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
He made special mention of Greece’s contribution to EU missions and operations, within the framework of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), with the most typical being the missions in the Sahel region, i.e. in Mali (European Union Training Mission – EUTM MALI), in Mozambique (European Union Training Mission Mozambique – EUTM MOZ) and in Niger (European Union Military Partnership Mission – EUMPM NIGER), as well as in operations EUFOR (European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina) ALTHEA and European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI), whose Command has been taken over by a Greek Officer from 1 October 2023.
In addition, he highlighted Greece’s contribution to the EU with the “Hellenic Headquarters of European Union Operations” (HQE) of the 1st ARMY/EU-OHQ in Larissa.
In closing, the Head of GEETHA pointed out that Greece is against methods of circumventing International Law and all kinds of revisionism wherever they come fromand highlighted the ever-increasing capacity of the Hellenic Armed Forces, which ensure and guarantee both the national interests and national independence of Greece, as well as the south-eastern borders of the EU.
Upon the completion of his official visit to the GHETHA, the GHETHA Chief accompanied the CEUMC to the Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannis.
