The United States and Greece will step up joint efforts to combat terrorism and other security threats. The sides signed a memorandum on establishing a joint security programme.
Reuters reports.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the agreement during an official visit to Athens. He said the new programme is intended to strengthen counter-terrorism information-sharing between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies.
Rubio noted that Greece is particularly vulnerable to threats linked to mass migration and human trafficking.
Greece is granting the United States access to key military facilities used to maintain security in the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition, the country leads a European Union naval mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis also said Athens is ready to co-operate with the United States and provide maritime assistance in the Strait of Hormuz if a viable peace process emerges there.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began visits to Iceland, Greece and Portugal on 5 October for talks on security amid growing concern among NATO allies about Russia’s military activity and ongoing instability in the Middle East.