Business and guarantees | THE DAILY

If I had the opportunity to sit opposite the “European diplomat” who urgently raises the question of the provision of anti-aircraft systems from Greece to Ukraine, I would say the following to him: I would be happy if there was from the EU’s side a clear and tangible commitment to protect the security of our country, what the Anglo-Saxons would call a firm security commitment. Such a commitment does not exist and NATO cannot give it obviously, because it involves another of its members.

The “European diplomat” should, of course, also understand that Greece does not border Austria and France, nor does it just share a lake with a neighboring country. It has as a neighbor a country that disputes the sovereignty of Greek islands and which until recently made frequent overflights over them. The country’s anti-aircraft systems cannot be given to Ukraine, or any other country, without a commitment that they will be immediately replaced by similar ones, without obviously having to be paid for by the Greek budget.

If an “American diplomat” was also participating in the discussion, I would tell him exactly the same, because the relevant American commitment remains… secret and partly unclear. I would add, however, that the “compensations” that Greece has received, either because of its stance on the Ukrainian crisis or because of the green light to supply Ankara with F-16s, are anemic. Despite the fact that the Greek government has incurred significant political costs. Classic example, the American surplus warships which, rightly, were rejected by the leadership of the Greek Pentagon. I would also mention the remark of a veteran analyst of American politics in our region, who recently commented that “some serum is put into every new entrant at the State Department, which makes him face Turkey with awe or fear of being lost.” He said this judging the Turkish attitude in Ukraine and the Middle East with the Greek one.

Some Northern diplomats consider the above argument to be purely Balkan, perhaps even unsightly. On the other hand, we are the ones who live here in a dangerous neighborhood, with many threats and the expectation that our participation in the hard core of the West comes with some kind of protection. Yes, and not to forget. It is our northern allies who did business with Moscow and were totally dependent on it for years, regardless of the geopolitical implications. And they are the same ones who, as soon as the Ukrainian capital is closed, will do business with Moscow again.