GEOPOLITICS of CRETE - Strategically Located With Established NATO Assets - MUST READ

Crete is at the center of the eastern Mediterranean and it is the fifth – largest island in the Mediterranean. It is almost equidistance from Sicily and Suez and relatively close to the northern coast of Africa. Its geographical position and the air and naval bases provide for effective sea control and protection of sea lines of communication which connect the Suez Canal with the Dardanelles and the ports of the Eastern Mediterranean with Gibraltar. Due to its geographical position Crete is used as: a) for air and naval operations in the eastern Mediterranean basin and especially for the opposing the threat form the south (including ATMB from Iran), b) as an MPA air base for the effective surveillance of the whole eastern Mediterranean area and c) it has good self-defense capabilities due to the rugged geography of its territory which facilitates resistance and opposition to any amphibious or air-landing operations

Due to its position, Crete has assumed a great strategic significance for NATO and it hosts several National as well as NATO military operational and training infrastructures. More specific and apart from NAFI as described in the previous paragraphs, Crete hosts the following Hellenic Military infrastructures:

• 115 Combat Wing equipped with F-16 Block 52+ (340 & 343 Squadrons)
• 126 Combat Group equipped with S-300-PMU-1 Long Range Air Defense Systems
• 133 Combat Group
• 3rd Area Control Center (Ziros Radar)
• Souda Bay used by the Hellenic Navy

Further to the above and recognizing the strategic importance of Crete NATO invested in operational as well as training installations. More specific the following NATO units are operating in Crete:

• NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (NMIOTC

NMIOTC stands out as one of the most important aspects of Greece’s Voluntary National Contributions to NATO. In an age of fiscal constraints, the NMIOTC is an initiative of prime importance to Greece. Souda Bay itself stands out as an important hub to commercial maritime trade, for countries and companies. Greece remains in the forefront of countries with commercial maritime supremacy and importance. As such, the NMIOTC is a NATO initiative that attaches both military and commercial importance.

• US Naval Support Activity (NSA)

NSA Souda Bay is physically located on the large circular shaped Akrotiri Peninsula, which forms the northern face of the Souda harbor. NATO Maritime Airfield Souda Bay, Crete, is operated by the 115th Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force. The U.S. Navy is a tenant activity. The Hellenic Air Force provides host nation responsibilities for the operation of the utilities and buildings. The U.S. Naval Support Activity is responsible for the support of U.S. Sixth Fleet Aircraft, U.S. Navy Air Detachments deployed at Souda and transient U.S. Military Aircraft.

• The U.S. Naval European Meteorology and Oceanography Detachment

It was established on July 1, 1972, as a Naval Weather Service Office and is a tenant command of the U.S. Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay. NAVEURMETOC DET is located in the Air Passenger Terminal building adjacent to the NSA hangar. The detachment spaces contain working spaces for Flight Weather Briefing, Aviation Weather Observation, communications, supply, and an administrative office. Flight Weather Briefing is conducted within a joint Air Terminal Operations, Flight planning room.

• A VQ-2 detachment is permanently based at Naval Support Activity

Souda Bay is also the site of the NSA's Consolidated Reconnaissance Operations Facility (CROF).

• FORACS. NATO FORACS is a multi-national

NATO project with eight member nations: Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Its mission is to measure the bearing, range, heading and positional errors of sensors on-board surface ships, submarines and helicopters. These calibration measurements establish confidence among the member naval forces that target locations can be accurately passed from sensors to weapon systems and other NATO combatant units. One of the most important stations of FORACS is located in Souda bay. Through specific NATO upgrade program FORACS radars, communication and measuring equipment located in Crete have been upgraded.

From the above analysis becomes evident that Crete is one of the most important strategic locations in the Mediterranean Sea and apart from the National Hellenic Armed Forces existing installation, NATO has also several establishments which proves the importance of the area. In this specific area NAMFI importance combined with the new requirement for ATBM protection and operation training becomes of highly importance. Nevertheless in order to be able to support the new threats and operational requirements (especially in connection to ATBM operations) new investments are necessary.

The combination of the strategic geographic location of NAMFI, the existing training and monitoring equipment and the new rising needs for extensive training against new threats can result to new training roles to NMAFI expanding the current portfolio of provided services.

Based on the new list of threats, NMAFI services can be expanded to the following areas (subject to the necessary investments in order to support operational training of each of them):

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