Today, Monday 24 May 2021, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis attended Exercise “IMMEDIATE RESPONSE/CENTAUR 21”, held at the Xanthi Tank Firing Range, in the context of the mutual defence cooperation between Greece and the United States of America.

This is a tactical exercise at Brigade level, with live fire and consists part of multinational Exercise “Defender Europe 21”. The co-training is held with the participation of units from our country and the USA, with the contribution of Great Britain in the field of Logistics. It is held between Monday 17 and Tuesday 25 May.

The Deputy Minister highlighted the high level of cooperation and the excellent outcome of interoperability of personnel, procedures and assets, aiming to deter and demonstrate the vigorous force provided by the Armed Forces.

During Distinguished Visitors Day his Excellency the US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt attended, as well as HNDGS Deputy Chief Vice-Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, HAGS Chief Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, Commanding General of United States Army Europe and Africa General Christopher Cavoli, the British Commander Field Army General Ralph Wooddisse and the Director of Civil Affairs in Thrace, Embassy Advisor A’ Mr. Symeon Tegos.

Here follows the address delivered by the Deputy Minister of National Defence:

Salutations…

With great honor I attend today’s event at the Firing Range of Petrochori, in Xanthi, in the context of the completion of the bilateral “IMMEDIATE RESPONSE / CENTAUR 21” Exercise.

The Exercise, conducted for the first time in Greece, as part of the Multinational Exercise “DEFENDER EUROPE 21”.

This training of the Hellenic and American Forces further promotes the long-term defense cooperation between Greece and the United States, inspired by the common desire for a substantial contribution to the security, stability and prosperity of our wider region.

The will to further strengthen the long-term defense bonds of the two nations remains common and aims to ensure and maintain strong, efficient and interoperable Armed Forces, by consolidating their deep strategic relations.

Such a relation is based not only on a conjuncture or identification of temporary interests, but also on the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights, international law, values that the two nations strongly advocate, as stable and credible allies in Europe and NATO.

In such field of deepening the exceptional bonds between Greece and the United States, I would like – on the one hand – to highlight the significant contribution, the commitment, but also the tireless efforts of the American Embassy – and in particular of His Excellency the Ambassador Payatt. On the other hand, I confirm once again the intention of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense to further strengthen these ties and extend their updated Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA).

Ladies and gentlemen,

Greece, a country located in a critical geopolitical area and in a rapidly changing geostrategic environment, is called upon to face a set of complex and multidimensional potential challenges, risks and threats, in a way that secures its national sovereign rights with reliability and efficiency.

Through cooperative action in the field of defense diplomacy, the nation seeks to intensify its security and promote its stabilizing and constructive role, functioning as a driving force for positive outcomes for NATO and EU.

The above-mentioned intense, multidimensional and multilevel defense diplomatic effort of the country is a widely understood and evident fact at international, allied and bilateral level, throughout an extensive network of actions, collaborations and synergies, aimed to promote the Hellenic Flag and the presence of the Hellenic Armed Forces in all areas of its strategic interest.

Greece – due to its undoubted geostrategic supremacy – has long been a key actor in the regional security system, implementing a defense and foreign policy of unwavering principles and positions, based on international law and equal bilateral relations.

Our nation remains the strongest pillar of stability in the wider Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa region.

Congratulations for the organization and the implementation of the Exercise!