On Monday 20 February 2023, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander visited the XII Mechanized Infantry Division Headquarters at Alexandroupolis Port facilities and the 110 Combat Wing at Larissa, accompanied by the Chief/HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros.
Dr. Celeste Wallander is accompanying the U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Antony J. Blinken in our country, who is visiting Greece officially today Monday 20 February 2023 and tomorrow Tuesday 21 February 2023.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defence first visited the XII Mechanized Infantry Division Headquarters at Alexandroupolis, where, in the presence of the D Army Corps Commanding General Lieutenant General Dimokritos Konstantakos, they were welcomed by the Division Commander Major General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos and were informed on the current activities of the Formation.
Next, Mr. Hardalias and Dr. Celeste Wallander observed a presentation by Staff Officers of the Hellenic Police, Port Police-Coast Guard, XII Mechanized Infantry Division and HNDGS.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence made the following address:
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone in Alexandroupolis, the “city of Alexander”. A city which is the jewel of Thrace, but also one of the most strategic areas of the southeast wing of NATO and the western world in general.
Ladies and gentlemen, your presence here today proves the excellent level of relations between Greece and the U.S. In the last years, we have further built our bilateral cooperation in every field, with tangible and measurable results.
In some areas of Greece, the imprint of good cooperation is more obvious than it is in Alexandroupolis. From the beginning of its tenure, our government gave particular emphasis on the reinforcement of our common military cooperation in this area, the importance of which is much greater than that of an important hub for commerce. Years before the illegal and unexcused Russian invasion in Ukraine, we envisaged Alexandroupolis as the cornerstone of the Greek-American cooperation in the field of security in Northern Greece, as well as the main axis of the deterrent and defensive presence of NATO in the Balkans and the Black Sea. Furthermore, we were committed to transforming it to an important hub for energy.
Our efforts had results. Today, the Alexandroupolis region is of vital importance for the operational plans of the Alliance, concerning the reinforcement of its east flank, against Russia becoming increasingly unpredicted and aggressive, whereas it is decisive for the energy security of all southeast Europe, thanks to extremely ambitious works, like the establishment of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit. Alexander the Great, whose name the city bears with pride, once pointed out that there is nothing impossible for the man who tries. Indeed, this is the case.
We worked hard and we keep working, in close cooperation with our American partners, in order to achieve these goals. In this context, the last three and a half years there have been some developments-milestones in our strategic partnership. The most important of them was the last amendment of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement of our countries, which constitutes the foundation of our strategic cooperation and reinforces our common defence doctrine for more than three decades. During the last years, we have witnessed an unprecedented convergence and cooperation in the field of defence and security. Our F-16 upgrade in “Viper” issue, the constant bilateral exercises, the Souda Bay, which constitutes the base and provides the opportunity of intense activity in the air and at sea, the facilities at Stefanovikeio used by the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as the Special Mission Battalions that operate from Larissa and Alexandroupolis, are only examples of a thriving alliance. The imminent acquisition by Greece of one F-35 fifth generation aircraft squadron will upgrade the cooperation of the Air Forces of the two countries, at an unprecedented level for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans!
Dear guests, it is interesting that this extremely important establishment and deepening of the Greek-American relations is evolving through time. I believe this fact reflects the deep roots of our alliance, the common democratic principles and values, as well as the outstanding perspective for further cooperation. No one of us ever kept a stance of “cunning neutral” and he will never do. In all cases, we stood and fought together, in the right side of History, without ever deviating from our devotion to the high ideals of freedom, justice and the rule of law. At the end of the day, that makes the difference!”
Next, the Deputy Minister of National Defence and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defence visited the facilities of the Alexandroupolis Port Organisation, where they were welcomed by the XII Mechanized Infantry Division Deputy Commander Brigadier General Dimitrios Pantziokas and were briefed on issues of Host Nation Support (HNS).
A visit followed at the reception and redeployment spots of the American and NATO troops at Central and Eastern Europe, and they observed a presentation by the President of the Alexandroupolis Port Organisation Mr. Konstantinos Hatzimihail, where they were informed on the activities of the port and the perspectives in the near future.
After that, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias and Dr. Celeste Wallander, accompanied by the Chief/HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros and members of the American delegation, went to Larissa and visited the 110 Combat Wing HQ at Larissa Air Base, where, in the presence of the Chief of the Tactical Air Force Lieutenant General (AF) Georgios Fasoulas, they were briefed by the CW Commander Colonel (AF) Argyrios Moustroufis on the current activities and operational work of the 110 Combat Wing.
At Larissa Air Base, Mr. Hardalias and Dr. Wallander visited the 110 Combat Wing facilities, where 8 UAV MQ-9 REAPER of USAFE have been redeployed with their support personnel, and they were informed by Lieutenant Colonel William Bollinger on the mission, organisation and current activities of the Unit.
During their visits, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias and the Assistant Secretary of Defence Dr. Celeste Wallander were also accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Athens Ms. Maria Olson, the U.S. General Consular in Thessaloniki Ms. Elisabeth K. Lee, the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the Minister of National Defence Ambassador (honor.) Mr. Eleftherios Aggelopoulos, and delegations of the Armed Forces.
