Kostas Grivas: The US demands that Greek islands be sacrificed on Erdogan’s altar

In an article in newspaper Pontiki, one of the most reliable, serious and informed Greek journalists on foreign policy issues, Dimitris Milakas, among other disturbing things mentions, claims – citing diplomatic sources – that the US is demanding the partial demilitarization of Greek islands of the eastern Aegean. In particular, they are calling for the removal of “US-made missile systems”, as the article states, which are probably M270 multiple MLRS rocket launchers.

If this is indeed the case then we are facing an unprecedented hostile act on the part of the US, which goes far beyond the friendly neutrality they traditionally display towards Turkey. And of course, if there are people at any level and position of the Greek state mechanism, political and bureaucratic, who are talking about “partial demilitarization” of Greek islands, then we are talking, clearly and bluntly, about an act of national betrayal.

First of all, to clarify things, the word “demilitarization” is a euphemism for the word disarmament. Because that is what we are talking about. And there is no partial demilitarization, just as someone is not slightly pregnant. If we accept the withdrawal of critical weapons systems, such as the MLRS, from a Greek island, then we are depriving the military forces there of the ability to defend themselves in the event of an attack. The Greek soldiers are transformed from defenders into hostages.

And let no one say that we are talking about offensive weapons that can strike inside Turkey and that is why we should withdraw them “so that the Turks do not feel insecure”. These views are just oversimplifications. In essence, they argue that Turkey can exert power in Greece, but Greece is not entitled to have similar capabilities.

“Partial demilitarization” means the surrender of Greek islands

In addition, the separation of fighting skills into “offensive” and “defensive” is an arbitrary mental construction and has absolutely no meaning in the real world. Very simply, if we assume that the Greek military forces stationed on a Greek island do have some capabilities to muster local defense in the event of an invasion, but no ability to attack targets at long distances, this means that the Turks can undisturbedly concentrate their offensive effort on any Greek island they wish and suppress its defense by numbers no matter how strong it is.

In other words, you can only defend the Aegean as a whole and not as isolated islands, separate from each other. And that’s why you need weapons that can project power over long distances, that is, “offensive” weapons. And of course, the ability to project power on the opposite coast and the unification of the entire line of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese as a single theater of operations, is a fundamental element for the Greek deterrence on the issue of Kastellorizo.

Otherwise, if we lack “offensive” capabilities, it is like giving the green light to Turkey to carry out a controlled hot incident on its terms in Kastellorizo and then impose its positions Greece, since we will not be able to react to another point of the Greek-Turkish border.

In other words, the debate over “partial demilitarization” is essentially aimed at destroying the Greek islands’ defensive capabilities against the Turkish war machine as a whole. That is, in their transformation into hostages of Turkey and finally in the subjugation of Greece. And in this effort, the USA is leading, if what Mr. Milakas claims in his article really applies.

The United States is becoming an enemy of Greece

In this case, we have before us the relentless possibility of Washington turning into an armed partner with Ankara and helping it in practice in its attempt to mutilate Greece. If this is indeed the case, the consequences for Greek-American relations are inevitable and will be dramatic and rather irreversible. However, I want to believe that this is not the case and that the situation will be clarified in the coming days.

I also cannot believe that there may be Greek politicians and bureaucrats at the Foreign Ministry who envied Tsolakoglou’s (the Greek Quisling) fate and are willing to discuss similar demands. In any case, however, because the relevant information is increasing and comes from lips that can not be ignored, we are expecting that the Greek government willo clarify the situation. If we really accept such pressure from the transatlantic “allies” then the Greek government must call things by their name to the Greek people and ask for their support in a policy of national resistance. And I’m sure, then, the government will have their support.