The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations approved the bipartisan bill to bolster the United States’ defense partnership with Greece, the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021. The bipartisan legislation boosts support for Greek military modernization by authorizing new transfers of American military equipment and fostering increased multilateral …
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USA eases travel advice for Greece, lowers risk level
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US State Department eased travel advisories for more than 110 countries and territories, including Greece this week. The CDC’s new ratings, posted on a CDC website on Monday, include 61 nations that were lowered from its highest “Level 4” …
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Legislation to bolster US defense partnership with Greece, F-35 sale and loans
U.S. senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez introduce legislation for major boost of deference partnership with Greece. Proposed is the sale of F-35 fighter jets originally planned for Turkey. Titled the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021, the bipartisan legislation bolsters support for Greek military modernization, authorizing new …
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AHEPA calls on President Biden to recognize the Greek Genocide
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) sent a formal request to US President Joe Biden, asking for the United States government to recognize the Greek Genocide. In a June 7 letter, Supreme President George G. Horiates wrote that it is time the US government “recognizes the Greek Genocide that …
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President Joe Biden recognizes the Armenian Genocide; Turkey furious
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday recognized the Armenian Genocide. The highly symbolic recognition coincides with Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and comes 106 years after the beginning of the mass deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, which led to the deaths of up to 1.5 million people. “The American …
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US State Department adds Greece to “Do not Travel” list due to Covid-19
The US State Department has added Greece along with many other countries, to its “Do not travel” list which indicates “a very high level of Covid-19 in the country.” The State Department upgraded its list adding over 80 countries to “Level 4” risk of the pandemic. Adding “Greece” on the …
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USA removes Turkey from F-35 program over Russian S-400
The United States has officially notified Turkey that it has been removed from the F-35 fighter jet program, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on April 21. After terminating a 2006 memorandum of understanding, the United States signed a new agreement with other signatories, Anadolu Agency quoted a Pentagon official as saying. The …
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Biden expected to recognize massacre of Armenians as genocide
US President Joe Biden is expected to formally recognize the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War One as an act of genocide, sources said on Wednesday, a move likely to infuriate Turkey and further strain already frayed ties between the two NATO allies. The move would …
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Greece lifts quarantine for travelers from EU, Schengen, 5 non-EU countries
Greece ‘s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Monday that it lifts the 7-day quarantine for arrivals from European Union member states, countries of the Schengen Agreement and five more non-EU countries. The lifting of quarantine is, however, bound to two preconditions. At the same time, the CAAt extended travel …
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Johnson & Johnson delays vaccine delivery to Europe after USA pauses administration
Johnson & Johnson is pushing back the EU rollout of its single-dose vaccine following reports of blood clots. Previously, US authorities had urged a pause on use of the vaccine. In Greece, authorities had said that J&J would deliver 33,600 doses on Wednesday, April 14, and that the vaccines would …
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Joint Greek-American military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea
The presence of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean has provided the Hellenic Armed Forces with the opportunity to conduct several exercises with their American counterparts. The Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) said in a press release that it has planned joint aeronautical exercises with …
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US Secretary of State Blinken speaks with Greek counterpart Dendias
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken had a telephone conversation with Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias on Monday, the first contacts since Blinken assumed office. I a statement, the State Department said that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Dendias emphasized their commitment to further strengthening U.S.-Greece bilateral relations, including …
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Americans look to Greece for post-pandemic vacations, online search show
Greece is Americans’ preferred destination in Europe for post-pandemic vacations, according to online searches over the last six months monitored by Google and analyzed by online travel marketplace KOALA. The data of the “Future Travel Trends” suggest that the majority of Americans are planning a trip fairly close to home …
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United States sanctions Turkey over Russian missiles S-400
The US State Department announced on Monday that it imposes sanction to Turkey for the purchase and testing of Russian S-400 missiles. The sanctions are imposed under CAATSA 231. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that Turkey’s S-400 system risks U.S. military technology and personnel and …
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Greece, talks cooperation, defense, investement
The meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias concluded on Monday morning in Thessaloniki. In the meeting lasted some 45 minutes, dominant issues were of bilateral, regional and international interest, emphasis on Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, defense and energy cooperation. The two top diplomats …
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“Stolen Cerberus VII”: C-130 fly in formation over Athens in joint Greek-US exercise
Two Greek and two American Air Force C-130 flew in formation over Athens on Friday afternoon, inaugurating a joint annual exercise under the name “Stolen Cerberus VIΙ.” The American Air Force aircraft belong to the 37th Airlift Squadron, the Hellenic Air Force said. The planes flew out of Elefsina Air …
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USA partly lifts arms embargo to Cyprus
The USA decided to waive the restrictions and allow the export of non-lethal defense articles and services to the Republic of Cyprus. The decision taken by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – announced on Monday – is pursuant to the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019, …
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Greek cheese exempted from U.S. customs duty imposed in EU farm products
Greek cheese is exempted from customs duty imposed by the United States on farm products from the European Union, the Agricultural Development & Food Ministry said on Thursday. Minister Makis Voridis called US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt to express his appreciation, a ministry statement added. As Voridis noted, the …
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Greece resumes flights from UK, Sweden, USA, considers new restrictions
Greece confirmed on Monday that it will resume direct flights to/from UK on July 15 and announced it will resume direct flights to/from Sweden on July 22, 2020. At the same time, it said it is considering resuming of flights to/from third countries such as the USA by the end …
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Novartis Hellas to pay $225 million to resolve U.S. bribery charges
The U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday that Novartis Hellas, a Greece-based unit of the Swiss drugmaker, entered a deferred prosecution agreement and will pay a $225 million criminal fine. Novartis will also pay $112.8 million to settle related civil charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis …
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