Committee says Crete risks becoming hub for US–NATO war plans

In a statement, the committee warns that Souda is once again being transformed into a key base for US and NATO war planning in the wider Middle East.

The mobilisation comes amid an increased military presence in the region, in the context of threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran and a broader escalation across the Middle East.

‘The massive presence of American F-35 and A-10 fighter jets, refuelling aircraft and transport planes, as well as the imminent arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, confirm that Souda is being further upgraded into a critical link in the war chain tightening around Iran and the peoples of the region as a whole, bringing the possibility of a generalised military conflict closer,’ the statement reads.

EEDYE argues that the transformation of Greece into a forward operating base, under the responsibility of the Greek government, entangles the country in ‘dangerous developments’ unrelated to its defence or security. On the contrary, it states, such involvement turns Greece and its people into potential targets of retaliation.

‘The peoples have nothing to gain from the intensification of war plans,’ the committee adds. ‘On the contrary, they pay the heavy price of imperialist antagonisms in blood, refugees and poverty.’

EEDYE calls on the Greek public to remain prepared and vigilant, and to strengthen mobilisation around the following demands:

• the immediate disengagement of Greece from the war plans of the US, NATO and the EU
• the closure of the Souda base and all US–NATO bases in the country, and no facilitation for ‘the murderers of the people’
• the return of all Greek armed forces from missions abroad.

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