The United States is increasing the use of key military sites in Greece, including the strategically located base in Souda Bay and the port of Alexandroupolis, amid rising tensions in the Middle East and changing priorities in Washington, Kathimerini reports.

In recent months, US naval and air forces have been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster Israel’s defenses against missile attacks from Iran. The Souda Bay base, often referred to by US personnel as “the best in the Mediterranean,” has played a key role as a logistics and operations center for warships and aircraft.

Located on the island of Crete, the base has long been considered a strategic asset under the US-Greece Mutual Defense Agreement (MDCA). Recent upgrades have increased storage capacity and improved maintenance for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers deployed in the missile defense region.

In addition to deploying anti-aircraft missile and anti-drone systems to Souda—many of which were flown in from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft—the United States has received support from the Hellenic Armed Forces, including the deployment of Patriot missile batteries by the Hellenic Air Force.

Washington is also turning its attention north to Alexandroupolis, which is establishing itself as a logistics hub near NATO’s eastern flank. A U.S. military delegation is expected to visit the city in mid-July to inspect facilities used by U.S. forces, including the port and the nearby Yannoulis military camp, where the U.S. presence remains limited for now.

The port plays an important role as an entry point for troops and military cargo destined for Bulgaria and Romania, key countries on NATO’s southeastern flank. Its strategic value also lies in its potential to become a transit corridor for commercial goods and energy resources, should access to the Black Sea remain restricted for landlocked countries, as it has been since 2022.

For Athens, the increased US interest in Souda and Alexandroupolis confirms the long-term strategic importance of the Greek territory in American defense planning – even as Washington signals a gradual shift in focus away from long-standing commitments in Europe and the Middle East.

Analysts note that a current is gaining strength in Washington that insists on limiting involvement in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine – a position advocated by figures such as Elbridge Colby, the deputy secretary of defense for policy, and others who are calling for a strategic shift to the Indo-Pacific region, where US-China rivalry is intensifying.

While it is increasingly clear that withdrawing from Israel’s security commitments is no easy task, the shift in priorities in Washington is indicative of a broader trend – one that regional powers can no longer afford to ignore. | BGNES