Greece and the Emirates continue to strengthen their military alliance
The Mediterranean is becoming the scene of a maritime Cold War. The naval air exercises of Greece, Cyprus, Italy and France have increased during the summer due to the Turkish threat. And now the United Arab Emirates, which already had a military presence in Greece, is stepping up its support for future missions.
Since the joint exercises in early September, both countries have stated that they wish to strengthen their bilateral cooperation, particularly in the Mediterranean defence area.
Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammed Thani al-Rumaithi, chief of the general staff of the Emirates' armed forces, travelled to Greece this week to supervise the joint military exercises between the Emirates and the Greek air force on the island of Crete.
According to the official Emirates news agency WAM, the Emirati officer was received in Crete by General Konstantinos Floros, head of the General Staff of the Hellenic National Defence, and senior Emirati and Greek officials.
Al-Rumaithi was informed of the different stages of the exercises, the training plan and the proposed scenarios. Later, Al-Rumaithi met separately with the Greek national defence minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos.
During both meetings different ways of strengthening cooperation and joint action between the Emirates and Greece were discussed, particularly in defence and military areas of the Mediterranean.
Issues of mutual interest were also examined, such as means of exchanging opinions and speeding up military coordination and cross-visits.
Al-Rumaithi also visited the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, where he laid a floral offering while a band played the national anthems of both countries.
The United Arab Emirates' strategic alliance with the European countries is sponsored by its tensions with Iran, a circumstantial ally of Qatar and Turkey, which in turn support the Muslim Brothers. The Gulf countries, specifically the Emirates, have placed the Islamic organisation on the list of "terrorist organisations" since 2014.
Furthermore, since 2017 Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain have been exercising a political and economic embargo on the Qatari state, which they accuse of supporting cross-border terrorism.
Just this week, Russia has launched operation Kavkaz-2020 with the participation of Iranian Navy ships and several guest armies such as those of Armenia, Belarus, China, Myanmar and Pakistan.
The representatives of Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka are present as observers. Over 80,000 people are expected to take part in these exercises, which are being held in Russia's Southern Military District and in the Black and Caspian Seas.
During the days, which are scheduled to last until 26 September, there will be training sessions, manoeuvres with combat units, logistic and technical support, exhibitions by air defence units, the Navy, and the National Guard and the Ministry of Emergency.
The great military straggler in the area, geographically speaking, is Turkey. Following its appearance in the eastern Mediterranean with the prospecting exercises and enmity with Russia it professed during the Syrian war, no neighbouring country has wished to invite it to take part in the military events and manoeuvres scheduled for this week.
The national armies invited to take part in the manoeuvres are those of Armenia, Belarus, China, Myanmar and Pakistan. The representatives of Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka are present as observers.
