The U.S. Now Have A Drone Base In Greece

Nick Turse, The Intercept: Threats “From the South” Prompt U.S. to Base Drones in Greece for the First Time

As part of its ongoing expansion of operations in and around Africa, the U.S. military has recently begun operating drones from a Greek airfield.

MQ-9 Reapers, the more advanced replacement for the venerable Predator drone, deployed last month to Larissa air base in eastern Greece near the Aegean Sea “on a temporary basis as they transition to a different location,” according to Auburn Davis, the chief of media operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, who noted that the remotely piloted aircraft, or RPA, are unarmed and engaged in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions known as ISR.

“This is the first time that ISR capabilities have been temporarily deployed to Greece,” Davis told The Intercept. Due to “operational security considerations,” the Air Force declined to release details about the missions for which they’ll be used beyond referencing “foreign policy security objectives in the region, specifically to address threats emanating from the south.” The Reaper drones are ordinarily based in Africa, according to Pentagon spokesperson Eric Pahon.

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WNU editor: This revelation is occurring at the same time on speculation that the U.S. may transfer its nuclear stockpile in Turkey to Greece .... Is The U.S. Planning To Relocate Its Nuclear Weapons In Turkey To Greece? (May 26, 2018).