From Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 May 2022, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), General Konstantinos Floros, paid an official visit to the UAE, at the invitation of his counterpart, Chief of the UAE General Staff, Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi.

According to a statement issued by HNDGS on Wednesday, May 11, following the official reception of the Chief of HNDGS at the UAE General Staff, in a private meeting with Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, they both referred to the excellent relationship between the two countries, which was reaffirmed with the recent signing of the “Greek-UAE Military Cooperation Program 2022” and in the framework of the bilateral Broad Strategic Partnership Agreement signed at a Government level in November 2020.

They discussed additional issues of mutual interest with an emphasis on the current security challenges facing the two countries, the regional and international developments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as new conditions in the international environment.

During their meeting, the 5th in the last 2 years, the Chief of HNDGS additionally referred to the revisionism and provocative behavior of Turkey towards our country, a fact that undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region and has an additional impact on the general security situation.

At the bilateral level, the 2 Leaders focused on the possibilities of further developing the special relationship between the two countries, either by conducting joint training activities or by participating in joint bilateral and multilateral exercises, both to enhance their operational capabilities and interoperability as well as in support of the role of Greece and the UAE as pillars of consolidating security and maintaining stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, in accordance with the rules of international law and the principles of good neighborliness.

In particular, in the context of further deepening their Military Cooperation, reference was made to the provision of facilities and infrastructure by the Hellenic Armed Forces to the respective UAE forces for the construction of personnel accommodation infrastructure at the military Camp “Major MELLIDIS” in Avlona. Furthermore, the assessment plan that will follow in 2022 of the possibility of additional mutual deployment of the two countries’ forces in their territories for the execution of joint operational training was also discussed.

The Chief of HNDGS then visited the TAWAZUN Industrial Park in Zaed Military City, where he met with Mr. Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani and CEO of the TAWAZUN Economic Council. There the Chief was briefed on the potential of the UAE’s thriving Defence Industry in the fields of UAVs, Loitering munition, Combat Vehicles, Amphibious Vehicles, Coastal Patrol Vessels, ammunition of all calibers, Man-Portable Weapons, etc.

He then met with the Chief of the UAE Ground Forces, Lt. Gen. Saeed Al Shehi, at the Ground Forces Headquarters, with whom he had the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest, organizational issues, Doctrine, and Command Structure as well as the prospects of deepening the cooperation of the Ground Forces of the two countries, in view of his forthcoming official visit to Athens. Afterwards, the Chief of HNDGS signed the Guestbook and laid a wreath at the Headquarters monument.

Finally, the Chief of HNDGS laid a wreath at the Wahat Al Karama Monument, dedicated to the Fallen Heroes of the UAE Armed Forces. At the 46,000-square-meter monument, he was welcomed and guided by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Executive Director of the Martyr’s Families’ Affairs’ Office at the Crown Prince’s Court, while he had the opportunity to sign its Guestbook.

Also read: HNDGS | Joint Training of Units with USS JASON DUNHAM – PHOTOS