Tabled in the Greek Parliament on Friday by the New Democracy Party a dangerous memorandum with the US opens the door for Greek troops to go to Ukraine under US command. It provides for the placement of Greek defense personnel in American units, but they will be paid by our Greece!
A 10-year memorandum of understanding is quietly coming to the Greek Parliament for ratification today, turning the country back decades, if not centuries. It is the first time that a Greek government breaks the barrier of “protectorate” for the worse, since it will not only make available as “mercenaries” members of our Armed Forces directly to the US military through a bilateral agreement but will also pay them with Greek taxpayers’ money! Even America is unlikely to have reached such a privileged agreement with another country.
This particular memorandum is so miserable that it takes effort to make it believable. But it was tabled last Friday and today it will be debated for a vote on the principle, articles, and the whole bill. As explicitly stated in the bilateral agreement, “This Memorandum of Understanding establishes the terms and conditions through which Greek Defense Personnel may be assigned to U.S. Army units in Europe to meet operational needs while providing the assigned Greek Defense Personnel with the work experience, skills, and knowledge of multinational interoperability.”
It is also made clear that the current placement is non-reciprocal, meaning that only Greece has an obligation to provide as many uniformed personnel as the US requests at any given time for operational support in Europe, but not vice versa. Although the Greek Defence Personnel that will be “seconded” will work for the benefit of the US, they will nevertheless be paid by Greece! There is even the chilling provision that it is the Greek Ministry of National Defense that will be the one to bear “all costs and expenses related to the preparation and shipment of the body and funeral expenses associated with the death of a deployed member of the Greek Defense Personnel.”
Part of the dangerous memorandum with the USA, which we present in detail today, was brought to light by militaire.gr, while the objection was expressed in the Foreign Affairs Committee that “this opens the back door to send troops to Ukraine”. On the part of the government, there was reassurance because of Article 3.6. However, this article leaves wide open the participation of Greek seconded soldiers in hostilities: “The Host Party (U.S. DOD) shall not place or continue to maintain Greek Defense Personnel in positions where there may be direct hostilities or where hostilities have already begun UNLESS approved in writing by both parties, i.e., both the Parent Party (Greek DOD) and the Host Party (U.S. DOD).”
In short, if the Americans request the participation of Greek Defence Personnel in combat operations within Europe, it will only require a formal signature of the Greek side. And, as we know, the Greek side rarely says “no” to the US. Precisely because the Greek government has consistently acted in secret on the issue of sending arms to Ukraine and has never, although it has been repeatedly caught red-handed, designed to inform Parliament, it is unlikely to do so for Greek personnel seconded to the US military. The “banana-type” memorandum was submitted to the Parliament on 8 March 2024 with the signatures of K. Hadjidakis (Ministry of Finance), G. G. Gerapetritis (MFA), N. Dendias (National Defence) and G. Florides (Justice).
What the dangerous memorandum with the USA provides for – What are the main conditions
- “This MOU sets forth the terms and conditions through which Greek Defense Personnel may be assigned to U.S. Army units in Europe to meet operational needs while providing the assigned Greek Defense Personnel with the work experience and multinational interoperability skills and knowledge. This placement is NON-PAYABLE.”
- “Greek Defense Personnel assigned to positions will gain operational expertise and technical knowledge while providing operational support to the U.S. military.”
- “If the Host Party (US Department of Defense) determines that the assignment of Greek Defense Personnel is no longer necessary and is not in the best interest of the Host Party, then the assignment shall be terminated.”
- “The Host Party (US DOD) shall not place or continue to maintain Greek Defense Personnel in positions where there may be direct hostilities or where hostilities have already commenced UNLESS approved in writing by both the Host Party (US DOD) and the Parent Party (Greek government).”
- “Uniforms and equipment will be returned at the end of the Greek Defense Personnel’s period of deployment. Any loss or damage other than normal wear and tear will be compensated by the Parent Party (Hellenic National Defence).
- ‘The Parent Party (Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Greece) Defence of Greece) shall be responsible for all costs and expenses of the seconded Greek Defence Personnel for basic salaries and wages and allowances including “per diem” of the seconded Greek Defence Personnel, living expenses, all costs and expenses related to the preparation and shipment of the body and funeral expenses related to the death of a seconded member of the Greek Defence Personnel and his/her dependants.”
- “Disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this MOU shall be resolved only through consultations between the Parties and shall not be referred to a natural person, national or international court or any other forum or third party for resolution.”
By Vassilis Galoupis
