Athens/Abu Dhabi: – Greece has initiated strong moves to stop the increasing dominant Turkish activities. Since the last few months, Greece has taken the initiative to increase cooperation with the United States, France, Israel, Egypt and India. Now there is an addition of United Arab Emirates to the list and Greece has signed a strategic partnership and defence cooperation agreements with this country. Greek foreign department revealed this information. The Greek media claimed that this is for the first time that Greece has signed such a deal with a country since the second world war.
A few days ago, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited UAE. During the visit, the Greek Prime Minister met and had discussions with UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Following this discussion, Foreign Minister Dendias and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed the agreements for strategic partnership and defence cooperation.
The agreement has a provision to ask for help from the other country if the integrity of one country is threatened. At the same time, Greece and the UAE can deploy their militaries in each other’s territories. Greece even agreed to train the UAE military. Although both Greece and UAE said that these agreements are not against any country, analysts claim that the objective of these agreements is only of stopping Turkey. Greece and Turkey, both, being NATO members, Greece and UAE have taken precautions not to violate the NATO regulation framework.
Since the last few months, Turkey is making aggressive moves against Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey has staked a claim on a few islands and the regions with oil deposits in the Greek marine region and has even sent its ships to this region. Greece has strongly objected to the Turkish activities and has issued a straight warning that it is prepared even for a conflict. At the same time, Greece has also taken the initiative to form a front against Turkey on the international level. For this, Greece is trying to increase cooperation with the United States, France, Israel, Egypt, as well as India.
The United States has a military base in Greece, and Greece has expressed willingness to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets from the United States. Greece and France have signed a major defence agreement. As per the agreement, France will be supplying fighter jets and destroyers to Greece. Agreements for fuel cooperation have been signed with Israel and Egypt. Indications have been given that cooperation in the technology sector will be increased with India. Taking all this in an account, the agreement between Greece and UAE becomes significant. Before this, in August, when the tension between Greece and Turkey had festered, UAE had deployed its F-16 fighter jets on a Greek base. Greece and the UAE had even held joint exercises.
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