The United States has increased its use of key military facilities in Greece, including the strategically located Souda Bay and the northern port of Alexandroupoli, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and shifting priorities in Washington.
In recent months, US naval and air forces deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to reinforce Israel’s defenses against ballistic missile attacks launched from Iran. Souda Bay, often referred to by US personnel as the “Best in the Med,” played a central role in the operation, serving as a logistical and operational hub for warships and aircraft.
Located on the island of Crete, the base has long been regarded as a critical asset under the US-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA). Recent upgrades have expanded storage capacity and enhanced support for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers deployed to the region for missile defense.
In addition to deploying anti-aircraft and anti-drone systems to Souda – many flown in from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, aboard C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft – the US received support from the Hellenic Armed Forces, including the deployment of Patriot missile batteries by the Greek Air Force.
Washington’s attention is also turning north to Alexandroupoli, a growing logistics hub near NATO’s eastern flank. A US military delegation is expected to visit the city in mid-July to inspect facilities used by American forces, including the port and the nearby Giannoulis military camp, where the current US footprint remains limited.
While the port serves as a key entry point for troops and military cargo bound for Bulgaria and Romania – countries critical to NATO’s southeastern flank – its strategic value also lies in its potential to serve as a transit corridor for commercial goods and energy, should access to the Black Sea remain restricted for non-littoral states, as it has since 2022.
For Athens, the expanding US interest in Souda and Alexandroupoli reaffirms the long-term strategic importance of Greek territory in American defense planning, even as Washington signals a gradual pivot away from prolonged commitments in Europe and the Middle East.
Analysts note a growing faction within the Pentagon pushing for reduced involvement in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, echoing the views of officials like Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defense for policy, and others who advocate a strategic shift toward the Indo-Pacific, where US-China competition is intensifying.
Although it has become clear that disengaging from Israel’s security is no simple matter, the shift in priorities within the core of the US administration signals a broader trend – one that regional powers can no longer afford to ignore.
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