The bill for the US-Greece defense cooperation, which was submitted in June by the chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the Senate, Robert Menendez, is progressing in the US Senate. The bill entitled “US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership 2021” has now been included as an amendment to the US defense budget package (NDAA). This development may pave the way for its rapid vote, as if the budget package passes as it is, it will mean that the Menendez bill will automatically become state law along with the budget.
The defense bill had already taken important steps, as it had been tabled and approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been tabled in the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, Robert Menendez’s goal was to be able to include it in the defense budget package, as otherwise a much more time-consuming legislative process would have to be followed. The systematic efforts of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), which recently launched an information campaign for members of Congress on this issue, also contributed to this effort.
Now the defense budget package is expected to be voted by the plenary of the Senate after Thanksgiving week. This will be followed by the predetermined negotiation between the Parliament and the Senate, where through this process the versions of the two bodies will be united in a single final text, which will eventually become a law of the US state.
What the US-Greece Defense Cooperation Bill Provides
The bill aspires to build on the dynamics created by the East Med Act and provides specific initiatives to upgrade defense cooperation but also to support the modernization of the Greek Armed Forces. Among other things, support is expressed for the 3 + 1 scheme and its extension to other areas of cooperation is requested.
It is worth noting that according to the bill, the US Congress considers that it is in the US interest to help Greece get rid of its existing dependence on Russian equipment. Therefore, our country is expected to join the European Recapitalization Incentive Program. In this light, the bill provides for annual military assistance of 25 million dollars to our country for the period between 2022 and 2026. In addition, the bill calls for approval of the sale of F-35 fighter jets in Greece and provides loans to Greece in which will be related to armaments programs.
The Next Steps in the Athens-Washington Defense Cooperation
(1) Greece is a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the United States must remain committed to supporting its security and prosperity.
(2) The form of 3 + 1 cooperation between Cyprus, Greece, Israel and the United States has been a successful forum for cooperation on energy issues and should be extended to include other areas of common interest to its members.
(3) The United States should increase and deepen its efforts to cooperate with and support the modernization of the Greek military.
(4) It is in the interest of the United States for Greece to continue the transition of its military equipment from Russian-made weapons systems through the European investment program.
(5) The United States Government should continue to deepen strong partnerships with the Greek military, in particular in co-production opportunities with the Greek Navy.
(6) Maritime cooperation with Greece in the Gulf of Souda and Alexandroupolis is mutually beneficial for the national security of the United States and Greece.
(7) The United States should support the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece to include those aircraft that were produced but never delivered to Turkey as a result of Turkey’s exclusion from the program due to the purchase of the Russian S-400 system .
(8) The United States Government should continue to invest in Greece through the International Military Education and Training Program (IMET).
(9) The United States Government should support joint maritime safety cooperation exercises with Cyprus, Greece and Israel.
(10) The United States Development Finance Corporation should support private investment in strategic infrastructure projects in Greece, including shipyards and ports that contribute to the security of the region and the prosperity of Greece.
(11) The Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) with Greece should be extended for a period of five years and include deeper partnerships in Greek military installations throughout the country.
(12) The United States Government should restore the funds approved by Congress for the construction of infrastructure at the Souda Naval Base, which, however, were redirected in 2019 to the program for the construction of a border wall with the USA with Mexico.
(13) The United States Government should establish the United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center, as provided for in the East Med Act (2019 Eastern Mediterranean Partnership).
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