Greek-US armed forces started a joint military exercise near the region of Western Thrace, Greek media reported.
“JOINT EXERCISES WILL MAINTAIN THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF COMBAT READINESS”
A competition will be held at the range between tank crews in experimental tank driving and shooting accuracy. According to the sources, Greek army’s Leopard tanks will join the US’s M1 Abrams tanks for a drill near the Petrochori village in Xanthi.
The exercise will be watched by Greek Chief of General Staff Konstantinos Floros and top US commanders and diplomats in Europe.
Tensions in the region have been high since Turkey resumed energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean last month, after Greece and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation deal, spurning Ankara’s goodwill gesture of halting a previous search.
On Sunday, Greece’s prime minister said he is ready to talk to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if tensions between the two countries eased.
Ankara has consistently opposed Greece’s efforts to declare an exclusive economic zone based on small islands near Turkish shores, violating the interests of Turkey, the country with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean.