The Greek authorities have approved an increase in the military service of military recruits from 9 months to 12 months, starting next May, in order to enhance their military capabilities amid tense relations with its neighbor Turkey.
Greece’s new decision makes military service in line with the naval and air force recruitment period, as the nine-month period remains only for army recruits, who volunteer to join Special Forces services or serve in border areas for the duration of their service in military uniform.
Last year, Greece began major military modernization operations; including upgrading its fleet of old F-16 fighter jets as well as the purchase of the new generation french-made Rafale aircraft, and the order of frigates.
This attracted great interest from competitors from arms manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe.
It is noteworthy that Jeffrey Beat the U.S. ambassador to Greece announced that, his country is ready to sell F-35 fighters to Athens.
He also pointed out that Greece needs air force support in the face of Turkey’s provocations.
Washington announced at the end of last year that it was ready to sell the aircraft to Greece, a member of NATO, after Turkey was excluded from its purchase program, after receiving Russian Air Defense Missiles S.400.
While Athena made a similar deal with France to acquire advanced Rafal military aircraft, as well as to obtain more modern weapons from other countries.
Relations between Turkey and Greece are experiencing hot developments due to the Blue Homeland 2021 maneuvers, and Greek media responded by saying that the Turkish navy had sent warships to the training area.
“The armed forces are monitoring turkey’s Blue Homeland maneuvers, and some warships have been ordered to leave the Salamis naval base to monitor the situation,” it explained.
The differences between Athens and Ankara began last fall, after the Turkish government began gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, in a disputed area between Greece and Turkey.
Ankara considers the current crisis as a bilateral crisis for both countries and resolves between them, referring to its rejection of European intervention and entering into talks with Greece under European auspices.
