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Up to date: 02 Apr 2021 04:23 STI

Washington [US], April 2 (ANI): US Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin III met along with his Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos to reaffirm a mutual dedication to safety within the Jap Mediterranean and on NATO’s southern flank, a introduced Thursday the Ministry of Protection in an announcement.
“Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone at this time with Greek Protection Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos to reaffirm the sturdy and deep safety partnership between america and Greece,” mentioned the Minister of Protection. communicated. “The leaders pledged to be vigilant within the face of threats to the steadiness of NATO’s southern flank,” Sputnik reported.
In line with Sputnik, Austin welcomed the growth of the presence of US forces in Greece over the previous 12 months, together with the house port of the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Expeditionary Cellular Base in Souda Bay, and attributed it to the 2019 US-Greece replace. Mutual protection cooperation settlement.

The US Secretary of Protection additionally welcomed the exploratory talks underway between Greece and Turkey, NATO allies, and famous that Greece has persistently exceeded NATO protection spending targets.
The leaders additionally mentioned Russia’s so-called “malicious affect”.
Russia has repeatedly warned that NATO’s reckless navy build-up within the area threatens to spark an pointless confrontation. (ANI)