Greek media criticise the US for turning Alexandroupoli into a military base and for not intervening in the fires
The forest fires in Meriç province could not be extinguished even after 10 days. While the relentless struggle with the flames growing day by day, the US, which has turned the region into a military base, did not provide any assistance. The Greek media has headlined "The attitude of the USA towards our country in such a difficult period carries strong question marks".
It was reported that the fire, which has been raging in Alexandroupoli and Evros Region since 19 August, is the largest forest fire Greece has faced in the last 20 years. According to the report prepared by the Greek Meteorological Office based on the data of the Copernicus Emergency Management Agency of the European Union (EU), the forest area burned in Alexandroupoli and Evros Region until 23 August exceeded 720 thousand acres. This fire was included in the report as the largest fire recorded in European territory in recent years.
Greek media criticises the US for not intervening in the fires in Alexandroupoli
News Break, a news site from the Greek media, reacted against the US, which turned Alexandroupoli, which turned into ashes, into a military base, and did not do anything against the fires.
"The attitude of the US towards our country at such a difficult time raises strong questions"
"Alexandroupolis, which has been turned into a US base, has been on fire for days. Firefighters are doing their best from the ground and air, but it seems that this is not enough." In the news article, "On the one hand, the US Ambassador did not make any statement while Alexandroupoli was burning, and on the other hand, the indifference of the US base in the region. It raises strong questions about America's attitude towards our country in such a difficult period."
"If an American had a traffic accident, they would be there before the police!"
"Why doesn't the US base in Alexandroupoli help extinguish the devastating fires?" the news article asked, "Even if there was a traffic accident involving an American employee, the base officials would rush to the scene before the traffic police!"
US presence in Alexandroupoli
Alexandroupoli has become one of the most important logistics bases of the US military in Europe, especially after the war in Ukraine. Most of the arms deliveries to Europe are carried out via Alexandroupoli. Thousands of US tanks, helicopters, ammunition and military personnel were first transported here and then to the continent. As part of the defence cooperation agreement signed in 2021, Athens allocated the "Yanuli" barracks of the 156th motorised artillery battalion as a base for the US.
