Hegseth to Dendias: 'Greece can serve as a model for other partners, especially in SE Europe'

Hegseth also stated that the United States of America and Greece are connected with a close defence relationship, both on a bilateral level and via the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), for many decades.

He added that this is largely due to Greece's steadfast commitment to supporting allied priorities, as evidenced by its contributions to NATO missions, consistent defence spending exceeding 2% of GDP, and support for the stationing, access, and overflight of U.S. Armed Forces - particularly at the Souda Bay naval base, "which support critical operations across multiple theaters."

Hegseth underlined that the US Secretariat of Defence remains committed to cooperation with Greece, adding that he believes that this relationship will get deeper in the future as Greece's participation in the F-35 programme continues.

Regarding the future, the U.S. Secretary of Defence underlined the imperative for European partners to assume greater responsibility in European defence. He further noted that he and his team look forward to collaborating with the Greek Minister of Defence to identify new areas where Greece could contribute.

Hegseth also expressed gratitude for Dendias' message concerning the tragic aircraft accident last January at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport, which claimed the lives of three military personnel. He noted that the United States "found solace in the support of its closest friends and partners during this difficult time."