U.S.-Greece to Speed Up Engagement Under Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement

Greece on Monday signed an Implementation Arrangement (IA) to accelerate its defense cooperation with the U.S. under the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) signed between the two countries two weeks ago.

U.S. soldiers and Greek service members execute a simulated night raid during exercise Bayonet-Minotaur near Thessaloniki, Greece, in May 2017.

Monday’s agreement calls for increasing the frequency and duration of joint actions between the armed of the two countries in Greece, as well as speed up infrastructure projects at sites provided by MDCA using American funding.

Athens and Washington renewed their long-standing MDCA defense cooperation on October 14. It allowed U.S. forces to train and operate within Greek territory since 1990.

"The MDCA is the bedrock of our defense cooperation," Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said in a statement. "Today’s amendment extends the MDCA’s validity, making it consistent with other bilateral defense cooperation agreements between NATO Allies and durable enough to allow for Greece and the United States to advance security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond."