Mitsotakis and Pompeo on a visit to Souda base

Defence Redefined

Published on 29/09/2020 at 12:01

The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a joint visit to the Souda military base in Crete this morning. There they were informed about its operation and then boarded the Greek frigate MEKO “Salamis” and the American speedboats CCM (Combat Craft Medium) located at the naval base in Marathi. This was followed by an expanded meeting held at the 115th Combat Wing headquarters.

Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Pompeo were received at 10:00 in the morning by representatives of the military leadership of the two bases and were briefed on the track of the American base (NSA), in the presence of Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Minister of Defence Nikos Panagiotopoulos, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Constantinos Floros and the director of the Diplomatic Office of Prime Minister Eleni Sourani. From the American side the US Ambassador to Greece Jeffrey Payat and senior US officials were present. 

Afterwards, Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Pompeo visited the Naval Base in Marathi where they were informed about the capabilities of the CCM (Combat Craft Medium) speedboats, which are located on a pier that has been granted to the American forces. A few minutes later, near the base, they boarded the helipad of the Greek frigate MEKO “Salamis”. Their arrival was announced by the frigate’s loudspeakers (in English too), while a price-paying parade awaited them on board.

In the expanded meeting that started at 11.20 at the 115th Combat Wing, in addition to Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Pompeo, Messrs. Dendias, Panagiotopoulos, Floros and Sourani participated from the Greek side. From the American side, US Ambassador to Greece Jeffrey Payat, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker, Pompeo’s military adviser Ricky Waddell and US Secretary of State’s Adviser Mary Elizabeth Keys also attended.

Source: ANA MPA

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