Stronger presence in the Mediterranean
The US stationed 24 fighter jets in Crete
05/11/2022 10:49 am
Washington is strengthening its presence in the Mediterranean. In consultation with Athens, the US is sending 24 military aircraft and 500 technicians and pilots to Crete. From there, the US Air Force can also operate over the Black Sea.
The United States is increasing its presence in the eastern Mediterranean. By the end of July, ten US Air Force F-35 stealth jets and 14 F-15 fighter bombers are to be relocated to a base in western Crete (Souda Bay) – along with around 500 pilots and technicians. This was reported by the Athens newspaper “Kathimerini”, citing circles of the Ministry of Defense in Athens.
The deployment is based on a new agreement on military cooperation between Greece and the United States, which is due to be ratified in Parliament in Athens on Thursday. From Souda Bay, the US Air Force can operate both in the eastern half of the Mediterranean and over the Black Sea. There is also a large US naval base there.
The ratification is a formality, in fact the agreement is already in force. In fact, it is a five-year extension of a cooperation agreement that is already in force. It is automatically extended if none of the contracting parties objects.
Gas pipeline planned in the Mediterranean
In addition to Souda Bay, the USA also uses two bases in central Greece and the port of Alexandroupoli in northeast Greece for logistical support of US military activities along the borders of the NATO states with Ukraine.
Only on Monday did the USA, Greece, Israel and Cyprus announce their intention to expand their cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean. The four states reported this in a joint statement after their foreign ministers had broadcast video. The areas of energy, climate protection and civil protection as well as combating terrorism were mentioned as subject areas.
In view of the Ukraine war, Greece, Israel and Cyprus are again considering a project for a gas pipeline through the Mediterranean, which has since been abandoned. A 1,900-kilometer pipeline called EastMed (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) could route gas from Israel via Cyprus to Greece and thus to the European Union. Then it could be transported to Central Europe.