Greece's main opposition says defense deal with US lacks tangible commitments against Türkiye

ANKARA

Greece’s main opposition party, SYRIZA-PS, reiterated its objections to the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) and arms transfers to Ukraine, according to media reports.

Party leader Alexis Tsipras underlined in a meeting with the US Ambassador to Greece George Tsouni the importance of the strategic and defense relations between Athens and Washington but said the recent revision of the MDCA which led to greater US presence in the country, does not include tangible commitments by the American side against Türkiye, Left.gr news outlet said Tuesday.

He said the US should directly condemn “Turkish aircrafts’ overflights in the Greek islands” and freeze the sale of F-16s to Ankara.

Tsipras also expressed strong opposition to the arms transfer of weapons to Ukraine.

Such a move would weaken Greece’s defense on the islands and the border with Türkiye, he said.

The US-Greece MDCA was ratified May 12 by the Greek parliament.

The deal will allow the US military to gain access to three more bases in Greece in addition to one it operates.

Through the agreement that was inked in October 2021 in Washington DC, the two countries aim to deepen and expand their defense cooperation.

It will permit the US to use the Georgula Barracks in Greece's central province of Volos, the Litochoro Training Ground and army barracks in the northeastern port city of Alexandroupoli apart from the naval base in Souda Bay in Crete which the US has operated since 1969.

The MDCA, first signed in 1990, has been renewed in successive periods, with the last extension in 2019.

It was previously subjected to an annual renewal but the amendments allowed an extension for another five years.