“There is no question of Greek officers participating in US military operations or “involvement in the war in Ukraine”, as is evident both from the start of the talks with the US (2015 and 2019 respectively), but also from the explicit safeguards that exist.

This is clarified in a statement of the Ministry of National Defense, on the occasion of the publications on the memoranda submitted to the Parliament for the placement of Defense Personnel of the Hellenic Republic in the US Special Operations Command and the deployment/placement of Greek Defense Personnel in USAREUR Units ( of American Forces in Europe).

In articles 3.5 and 3.6 of both Memoranda, it is expressly stated that the deployed personnel will not participate in exercises, political-military actions as well as official deployments, the announcement adds.

Also, with the same announcement, the following are clarified:

– The Memoranda absolutely promote the national interest and are made at the initiative of the Greek side, They contribute to the consolidation of the strategic defense partnership between Greece and the USA and to the international consolidation of our country’s role as a factor of peace and stability in the wider region,

– The possibility of placing two Greek military personnel in positions of the US Special Operations Command is foreseen, as well as the possibility of placing/deployment of three Greek military personnel in USAREUR Units (the American Forces in Europe). The aim is to acquire valuable experience in the respective Staffs, as well as necessary know-how for the reform of the Armed Forces in our country, so that they meet the needs of the 21st century.

– This is an exercise of Greece’s unilateral right, as their placement is done on a non-reciprocal basis and the USA does not acquire a claim to place similar personnel in the Armed Forces of our country.

– The negotiation process has begun, regarding the Agreement for the placement of two Greek military personnel in positions in the US Special Operations Command in 2019, while for the placement/detachment of three Greek military personnel in USAREUR units (the US Forces in Europe) it began in 2015, on of governance SYRIZA/ANEL. And the second agreement was deemed nationally beneficial by the present government and the process for its completion continued.”