US approves Greece’s potential purchase of amphibious assault ships for enhanced security

Greece’s request to purchase dozens of amphibious assault ships from the US has been given the green light by the State Department. The proposed sale includes 63 personnel variants, nine command variants, and four recovery variants of the AAV, along with related equipment such as machine guns, grenade launchers, and thermal sights.

The sale is estimated to be worth around $268 million, and the US Department of Defense states that no prime contractor is associated with the deal. The State Department cited that the sale would benefit US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a NATO ally critical to political stability and economic growth in Europe.

The requested vehicles would also strengthen Greece’s ability to counter present and future threats by providing an effective means of defending maritime interests and infrastructure, supporting its strategic position on NATO’s southern flank. The State Department emphasized that the sale would not alter the fundamental military balance in the region and acknowledged Turkey’s contribution to the stability of the area.