The turmoil prevailing in the Middle East and the escalation of military conflict in the broader region following the strikes Iran received from the US and Israel on Saturday (28/02), have caused legitimate concern and alertness in countries located within or adjacent to the neighborhood that is “ablaze.” The unrest among residents of the surrounding area escalated even further from the moment the British base at Akrotiri in Cyprus became a target of Tehran, opening a discussion about the degree of danger Greece faces – and much more so Chania due to the American-NATO base in Souda Bay.
Read: Cyprus: The moment sirens sounded at Akrotiri (Video)
Gerapetritis: “I don’t believe Souda Bay is threatened”
For his part, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis just yesterday in his interview on SKAI, when asked about the possibility that the Souda Bay naval base might be within range of Iranian missiles, replied: “I don’t believe Souda Bay is threatened. The status of Souda Bay is governed by the defense agreement between the US and Greece. What can be done within the base is very specific: primarily providing facilities to the US, so they are not offered for offensive actions. I want to assure that all necessary measures have been taken both from the American side and from Greece’s side. We all understand that the crisis plaguing the broader Middle East region has consequences related to security as well.”
Many Chania residents appear rather calm, stating they don’t feel great concern about the existence of the base in Souda Bay, considering an attack a distant scenario. There are also those who express slight reservations, without however being dominated by feelings of insecurity.
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Source: flashnews
