United States–Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA)

Once overshadowed by U.S.-Turkey defense ties, Greece has emerged as one of America’s most reliable military partners in the Eastern Mediterranean. The U.S.-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA), updated in 2021, grants expanded U.S. military access to Greek bases, supporting naval operations, air policing, and NATO missions. As Greece modernizes its military and tensions with Turkey fluctuate, Athens has become a key player in regional security, balancing NATO’s southern flank against Russian and Middle Eastern threats.

History and Strategic Context

• Post-WWII U.S. Military Assistance (1947–1980s): The Truman Doctrine (1947) led to U.S. support for Greece during its civil war against communist insurgents. Greece joined NATO in 1952, aligning itself with the U.S. in the Cold War.
• Initial MDCA Agreement (1990): Allowed U.S. forces to use Greek military bases, particularly Souda Bay Naval Base on Crete.
• MDCA Expansions (2019 & 2021): The 2019 amendment expanded U.S. access to Greek army bases in Larissa, Stefanovikio, and Alexandroupoli. The 2021 update made the MDCA indefinite and granted the U.S. use of additional military sites in Greece.

Key Defense Agreements and Initiatives

• U.S. Military Basing Rights in Greece:
  • Souda Bay Naval Base (Crete): The most significant U.S. naval facility in the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting aircraft carriers, submarines, and logistics.
  • Alexandroupoli Port: A key hub for U.S. military deployments to Europe and the Black Sea region.
  • Stefanovikio Army Base: Hosts U.S. Apache and Black Hawk helicopters for regional training.
  • Larissa Air Base: Supports U.S. drone operations and air force deployments.
• Joint Military Exercises and Interoperability:
  • “Iniochos” Exercise: A major annual air combat drill with U.S., NATO, and regional allies.
  • “Alexander the Great” Exercise: U.S.-Greece amphibious warfare training, integrating Marines and Hellenic Special Forces.
  • Greece’s F-35 Acquisition (2023–2025): The U.S. approved F-35 fighter jet sales to Greece, enhancing its air power against regional threats.
• NATO and Regional Security Role: Greece serves as a forward operating base for NATO’s Black Sea and Balkans security efforts. U.S. forces in Greece support Ukraine war logistics and NATO deterrence against Russia.

Strategic Significance

• Countering Russian Influence: Greece’s Alexandroupoli Port has become a critical U.S./NATO logistics hub, reducing reliance on Turkey’s Bosporus Strait.
• Eastern Mediterranean Security: Greece and the U.S. collaborate on maritime security, countering threats from Turkey’s aggressive posturing, Russian naval expansion, and instability in Libya and Syria.
• Energy and Infrastructure Security: The U.S. supports Greece’s role as an energy hub, enhancing regional energy independence from Russia.
• Strengthened U.S.-Greece Relations: The expansion of the MDCA reflects Greece’s closer alignment with U.S. foreign policy, reducing its previous balancing act between the U.S., EU, and Russia.

Links

• Full Text of the 2021 U.S.-Greece MDCA
• U.S. Military Presence in Greece (Pentagon Report)
• Greece’s Role in NATO’s Southern Flank