Greece's parliament on Thursday approved an updated defence agreement with the US allowing the use of Greek military facilities as hundreds protested outside.

A majority of lawmakers ratified the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) as hundreds of Communist, left-wing and anti-war demonstrators protested on central Syntagma Square.

The agreement, which updates a deal originally signed in 1990 when Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' father was premier, enables the use by US forces of Greek military facilities including the airbases of Larissa and Stefanovikio.

Permitted actions for US forces at these facilities include training, refuelling, temporary maintenance, storage and emergency response.

The updated deal was originally signed in October during a visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"This agreement is beneficial to national interests," defence minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos told parliament.

The US is also granted priority status for "unimpeded access and use" within 48 hours of the port of Alexandroupolis, a Balkans and Black Sea gateway of strategic value to the US navy and NATO.

The US paid approximately $2.3 million to remove last year a sunken dredging barge that had blocked part of the harbour since 2010.

"This agreement upgrades (Greece's) importance in US planning and can help deterrence," the defence minister said, adding that US forces are expected to invest over 12 million euros ($13 million) on the Larissa base and around six million euros at Marathi, part of the US base of Souda, Crete.

Athens has signed on to an F-16 upgrade programme worth $1.5 billion, and is also interested in US-made drones and, eventually, F-35 warplanes, Mitsotakis has said.

The defence agreement has been roundly condemned by left-wing opposition parties.

"Wherever they are, US and NATO bases are targets for reprisals...NATO bases do not protect," said Communist party chairman Dimitris Koutsoumbas, warning that the government was "deepening" its involvement in "adventurism."

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

U.S., Japan kick off Northern Viper exercise in Hokkaido
Washington DC (UPI) Jan 28, 2020
Armed forces from Japan and the United States have kicked off a new iteration of the training exercise Northern Viper in the Hokkaido Prefecture of Japan, the Marine Corps announced. According to the Marine Corps, forces will conduct a combined arms exercise and live-fire training with ground and aviation units in the Hokudaien and Yausubetsu Training Areas in Hokkaido. This year's exercise, which began Sunday and ends Feb. 8, involves 2,300 Marines, 650 members of the Japan Ground Self- ... read more