Greece has become the US’s most valuable strategic partner in the Middle East – despite its distance from the conflict zones – due to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The US and NATO have been moving military equipment, including helicopters, tanks, and armoured vehicles, through the northern port of Alexandroupoli, which was integrated into the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA). This route bypasses the Bosporus Strait to the Black Sea, boosting NATO’s eastern wing.
The State Department initially considered Greece as a potential „frontier state” seven to eight years ago, but this perspective evolved due to the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, Ukraine’s war, and Middle East crisis. Greece’s geopolitical value has become tangible since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, US and NATO forces have primarily moved by rail from Alexandroupoli to Bulgaria, Romania, and the Baltic.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has also highlighted Greece’s role as a hub for US military forces in the Eastern Mediterranean, providing assistance to American air forces from Allied Joint Force Command Naples. The Souda air base has reached its aircraft handling capabilities, with a large part of the 115th Combat Wing ceded to US forces. The transport aircraft are primarily used to transport American civilians from Israel and Lebanon.
