Trump Plans to Close Greek Base Used to Supply Arms to Ukraine

 

Trump Plans to Close Greek Base Used to Supply Arms to Ukraine

According to the Greek newspaper "Democracy," President Donald Trump intends to shut down the Alexandroupolis base, which is used to supply arms and equipment to Ukraine and Eastern Europe ¹. This decision is reportedly in response to a joint request from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The base, which was allocated by the Greek government for the Biden administration to transport troops, arms, and military equipment to Ukraine, is now under review for its continued operation. The US government has ordered an urgent review of the base's usefulness and whether it should remain operational.

This move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The base has been a crucial supply route for Ukraine, and its closure could have significant implications for the country's ability to defend itself.

The decision is also seen as a nod to Russia, which has long been opposed to the base's operation. Since the start of the Ukrainian-Russian crisis, Alexandroupolis has been a target for Russia, and Greece has been included on the list of countries hostile to Russia.

The closure of the base is also expected to please Turkey, which has repeatedly expressed its dissatisfaction with the base's operation and has called for its immediate closure.

The Alexandroupolis base has largely circumvented Turkey's control over the Bosphorus Strait, which controlled the entry and exit of military and commercial ships into and out of the Black Sea. The abandonment of the Alexandroupolis base, which facilitated the overland transport to the north, bypassing the straits and Turkish authorities, will restore Ankara's absolute control over the entry and exit of military and commercial ships into the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.

The Greek government has welcomed the presence of the US base in Alexandroupolis, not only because of its practical contribution to the fighting in Ukraine but also because the base represents a practical recognition by Washington of Athens as a close partner of the United States and, therefore, as a strong ally of NATO.

In the event that the Greek political parties find, after a calm evaluation, that it is necessary to maintain the base in Alexandroupolis, they will have to support the reason for maintaining this base with convincing arguments, regardless of whether they are American or European.

The newspaper emphasizes that it is necessary to seriously consider the possibility that Trump will later withdraw US troops from NATO, which would turn the alliance into a European military bloc.

: Trump, Alexandroupolis base, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Greece, Turkey.

Published: 24.02.2025 | 13:05 GMT