Greek port boosts NATO capacity

Turkey’s behavior in the Aegean could exacerbate risk in an area of key security objectives for the NATO and, as such, it must not become an area of conflict between allies, Joseph Votel, commander of United States Central Command between 2016 and 2019, told Kathimerini in an interview. Votel, now president and CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), spoke a few hours after his visit to Alexandroupoli in northern Greece. Votel, a retired four-star general in the United States Army, does not mince his words when he says in reference to Turkey that the Alexandroupoli port “removes a strategic obstacle for our national interests and those of NATO.”

While acknowledging that Washington and Ankara have a “complex relationship,” Votel adds that cooperation with Greece at Alexandroupoli “takes our long-term relationship to a more important and strategic place.”

Votel, who during his visit met with Greek government officials as well as US soldiers who were on their way home via Alexandroupoli, also expressed his intention to share his excellent impressions with the American government and the American business sector, with an eye to further bolstering bilateral ties.

You are the president of an organization that combines entrepreneurship with national security. What does this mean in the case of Alexandroupoli, which you just visited?

Our organization’s work is about providing private sector observations on US national security challenges and as we confront new threats in Europe we want to make sure that the private sector understands what the US government is not only doing in Alexandroupoli but also identify ways that we be helpful by informing, advocating or bringing to bear the full weight and capability of the US business sector. Ultimately – we believe that national security is not just the domain of the military or our diplomats but is in fact the collective work of the public, private and civil sectors in the US.

Practically, what is the value of US-Greek cooperation in Alexandroupoli? Would you say it upgrades bilateral relations?

The value at Alexandroupoli is that the US and Greece share vital security interests that are, in part, satisfied by strong cooperation in this port. Not only does it improve our bilateral cooperation but more importantly it provides unique capacity and flexibility for the entire NATO Alliance. I would definitely agree that cooperation at Alexandroupoli takes our long-term relationship to a more important and strategic place.

‘If we fail to check Mr Putin in Ukraine I am afraid we will end up confronting him in other Eastern European locations as well’

Do you think that the growing role and the prospects of Alexandroupoli offer solutions that relieve the Western Alliance? Let me use different wording for the same question: How are US-Turkey relations shaping up as we speak? Is Erdogan’s double game with NATO and Russia something that can pass through the filter of American foreign policy?

Well, I think that Alexandroupoli provides an adaptive approach to overcoming Turkish decisions that would limit the NATO response to the growing Russian threat in Eastern Europe. I think the United States, like others, has a complex relationship with Turkey and in this case Alexandroupoli removes a strategic obstacle for our national interests and those of NATO. Calculating and considering Turkish national security objectives and actions is nothing new for US policy makers.

What is your reading of Turkey’s claims and wider behavior in the Aegean?

I am not an expert in this area but I do assess it has the potential to add increased risk and complexity into an area of important security objectives for NATO. My personal view is that it is in our interests and those of NATO that the Aegean not become an area of conflict between treaty allies.

With your experience as a four-star officer in the US military, what are your predictions for the Ukraine front and how far do you think Putin can go?

My experience tells me that this conflict will persist for a long period of time – even as the Ukrainians make good progress in their counteroffensive operations. I cannot predict what Mr Putin will do but his decision making and the actions of Russian forces to date continue to highlight why we must take this seriously, remain aligned as a NATO Alliance and ensure the Ukrainian people have the resources they need to resist. If we fail to check Mr Putin in Ukraine I am afraid we will end up confronting him in other Eastern European locations as well.

By the way, you were one of the last commanders of the US military presence in Afghanistan. With the Taliban in the background, do you think the American withdrawal turned out in the best possible way?

I think a US departure from Afghanistan was going to be difficult under any circumstances. Unfortunately, I don’t think the way we left has made the area any more stable or secure and it certainly has not left the good Afghan people in a better position. They deserve peace and stability – they are not getting it under the Taliban regime.