NO. 86

WASHINGTON, DC— The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) College Student Foreign Policy Trip to Greece and Cyprus completed its thirteenth year as nine students from across the United States participated in the 17-day program held June 22 to July 9, 2021. Following two days of briefings in Washington, DC, and a five-day visit to Cyprus, the student trip visited Athens, July 1 to July 8, 2021. During its stay in Athens, the group took a one-day trip to Souda Bay, Crete, on July 2.

“Greece is a dependable and vital United States ally and NATO partner as well as a frontline state against terrorism,” President Nick Larigakis said. “Our itinerary in Greece aimed to educate the community’s next generation of leaders about the Greece’s geostrategic importance, which includes NSA Souda Bay, and how Greece, via Souda Bay, contributes significantly to security interests in the region. The students learned firsthand how Souda Bay provides critical operational support to U.S., allied, and coalition forces deployed within the European Command, Central Command, and African Command’s areas of responsibility.”

The group took a flight to Chania, Crete and arrived at the 115 Combat Wing. Hellenic Air Force Colonel Ioannis Chatzigeorgiou, who is a base commander, greeted the students. The students learned the Combat Wing is utilized heavily by the United States and NATO. For example, more than 2,500 U.S. and NATO planes utilized it in 2017. They also had the unique opportunity to watch a live F-16 airshow demonstration.

“I have been to Greece many times before, but the AHIF trip was the best one by far,” Participant Leonidas Tsirigotis said. “Little did I know that I would speak to the President of Greece, see the Zeus F-16 in flight and visit Cyprus. This trip is not only special in nature, but an educational one intended to have students come back and educate the diaspora on the issues that need to be cared about and heard.”

A tour of Souda Bay included a visit to NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center (NMIOTC) and a briefing provided by Commodore Charalampos Thimis, H.N. The students learned about NMIOTC’s purpose and capabilities. Opened in 2008, NMIOTIC provides training for allies and partners of NATO, enabling them to better execute maritime interdiction operations. Greece also lends its maritime expertise which includes extensive experience with commercial shipping and port security.

From there, the students were taken on speedboats for a tour of the NMIOTC facilities and the Bay of Souda.

Another important facet of Souda Bay is the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI), which the students also toured. NAMFI’s commander, Lt. General Athanasios Sardellis, provided a briefing to the group. NAMFI is the only ground-to-air/surface missile firing range in Europe that provides missile training for NATO forces.

During the visit to NAMFI, the students enjoyed lunch at NAMFI’s Officers Club where the unit commanders participated.

Students also had the opportunity to visit the Hellenic Naval Base at Souda Bay. Students learned the history of Souda Bay and were briefed on recent operations supported by the base. Souda Bay has been critical to NATO operations since the creation of the U.S. Navy Support Activity Souda Bay (NSA Souda Bay) in 1990. NSA Souda Bay has supported operations of both the U.S. Air Force and Navy, as well as other multinational and American missions.

“I decided to join the AHIF Student Foreign Policy Trip based upon being told how amazing of an experience it was by several previous participants, and let me tell you, it did not let me down, Participant Michael Arianas said “From going on an active submarine to witnessing an occupying power on European Union territory, this trip fundamentally altered how I visualize the issues at play in the Eastern Mediterranean. When I describe the dispute between Greece and Turkey regarding Greece’s EEZ, I will no longer simply visualize the litany of maps and papers I’ve read over the years, but the crew aboard the frigate that patrols those waters.”