{"id":14832,"date":"2019-04-30T17:00:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T17:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/04\/30\/us-air-force-ties-to-greece-may-grow-as-relations-with-turkey-sour\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:17:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:17:09","slug":"us-air-force-ties-to-greece-may-grow-as-relations-with-turkey-sour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2019\/04\/30\/us-air-force-ties-to-greece-may-grow-as-relations-with-turkey-sour\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force ties to Greece may grow as relations with Turkey sour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Greek officials are seeking closer ties to the U.S. military<\/a>, a move that occurs as Turkey refuses to back down on acquiring a Russian air defense system that could compromise NATO aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athens and Washington have been discussing expanded operations at Larissa Air Base<\/a>, in central Greece, which includes potentially stationing KC-135 tankers <\/a>and unmanned aerial vehicles<\/a> there, as well as expanding training operations, according to Kathimerini, a daily Athens newspaper<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Air Forces Europe would not comment on future basing or force structure changes, but expanding training with the Greeks appears to be in the works regarding INIOHOS, an air exercise between NATO allies and partner nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey have expressed desires to increase the scope and stature of the exercise, and we are happy to support them as we can on their efforts,\u201d said a U.S. Air Forces Europe official. \u201cThe U.S. Air Force is preparing for Stolen Cerberus, a routine exercise between the Hellenic air force and U.S. Air Forces in Europe. As INIOHOS is a Hellenic air force-led exercise, we defer to them on plans for future iterations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unarmed reconnaissance MQ-9 Reapers are flying from Larissa Air Base until August, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said. However, he, too, refused to comment on discussions taking place that could expand that commitment, and deferred to previous remarks by Defense Department leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis teased the idea of an increased military presence in Greece for U.S. forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an open door for us; we have a close relationship,\u201d Mattis said Oct. 9. \u201cReally what it shows is the high, very high, levels of trust and transparency between us. And in that regard, we are always open to work with our NATO ally Greece on how we position our forces there in Europe.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis\u2019 Greek counterpart was certainly interested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A U.S. Air Force pilot from the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prepares for flight in an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft during a flying training deployment on the flightline at Souda Bay, Greece, Jan. 27, 2016. The training covered basic and air combat maneuvers aimed at honing the skills between the Greek and U.S. Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano\/Released)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very important for Greece that the United States deploy military assets in Greece on a more permanent base, not only in Souda Bay but also in Larissa, in Volos, in Alexandroupoli,” Greek Defense Minister Panagiotis Kammenos said during his October meeting with Mattis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexandroupoli is a port near the Greek-Turkish border and Volos is a port near the Aegean Sea. U.S. Navy vessels frequently dock at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete. U.S. Air Force pilots have also flown training operations from Souda Bay in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larissa Air Base appears to be the primary focus of current aircraft negotiations, however, as Reaper drones are only contracted to fly from there until August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe MQ-9 deployment is a temporary move as we transition aircraft to a new location,\u201d Pahon said. \u201cThis is the first time that ISR capabilities have been temporarily deployed to Greece.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t