Greece’s 117th Combat Wing in Andravida is gearing up for “Iniochos 2025,” the Hellenic Air Force’s largest multinational exercise yet. With over 60 aircraft and 1,000 personnel from nations like the U.S., India, and Qatar, the three-week event will showcase advanced air warfare scenarios across the Aegean. Running parallel to NATO’s “Ramstein Flag 25” in the Netherlands, this year’s exercise underscores Greece’s rising strategic role amid regional tensions.
Tag: international cooperation
ICOM, in partnership with ICOM Greece and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, has launched the ICOM Red List of Greek Cultural Objects at Risk to combat the illegal trafficking of Greek cultural heritage. This tool helps identify categories of cultural objects most vulnerable to illicit trade, aiding law enforcement, museums, and the art market in preventing such activities.
Ten children injured in the Gaza Strip arrived in Athens today for much-needed medical treatment, thanks to a complex humanitarian operation coordinated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by international partners.
Athens and Cairo have agreed to preserve the status of the historic St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, the world’s oldest continuously operating Christian monastery. This decision follows negotiations to address recent media claims challenging the monastery’s ownership, resulting in a joint declaration to protect its Greek Orthodox identity and heritage. Both nations are committed to enhancing cooperation in cultural preservation and tourism, with plans to develop the surrounding region as a tourist destination under President El-Sisi’s Sinai Transformation Plan.
In a major breakthrough, the Property Crimes Unit of the Organized Crime Division has finally solved the infamous 2008 Easter bank burglary in Kifisia. The sophisticated rififi method was used to steal over 4 million euros in money and valuables. Advanced forensic techniques and international cooperation were key in identifying the 53-year-old suspect, currently imprisoned in France, who has a history of similar crimes across Europe.
Greece’s acquisition of Belharra frigates from France faces a nine-month delay, with the first delivery now expected in late 2025. Despite this, Greece anticipates operating three frigates by the end of 2026 and is currently negotiating the purchase of a fourth.
Latvian authorities have initiated an investigation into the damage of a critical undersea cable connecting Latvia and Sweden, suspected to be caused by external interference. As the incident raises regional security concerns, Latvia is coordinating with NATO and Baltic countries to clarify the cause, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has promised full cooperation in the probe.
Greece and the UAE are joining forces to address water resource management challenges, with a focus on tackling climate change impacts. Deputy Minister Stefanos Gikas and UAE Minister Abdulla Balalaa discussed plans to establish a working group to explore solutions and align efforts ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Optimism grows for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece as intensified talks between Athens and London gain momentum. Italy, particularly Sicily, played a pivotal role in reigniting the international dialogue, with the return of the Fagan Fragment setting a precedent for cultural collaboration and heritage repatriation.
In an interview with Real FM, Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis expressed optimism about strengthening U.S.-Greece relations during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, highlighting Greece’s current role as a leader of stability and progress within Europe.
A Greek colonel has been arrested by the Electronic Crime Authority (ELAS) for possession of child pornography. Authorities discovered thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on the colonel’s electronic devices following an international investigation.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit AlUla, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the first Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. This historic meeting aims to deepen bilateral ties, enhance cooperation in trade, energy, and investment, and solidify Greece’s role as a vital link between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Greece has been selected to host the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum in December 2025, following this year’s meeting in Yerevan, Armenia. The decision was made unanimously by Forum members, which include countries such as Armenia, China, Egypt, and Peru. Greece aims to lead initiatives that promote the Forum’s visibility, combat illegal antiquities trafficking, and foster collaboration on the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. The Forum, established in Athens in 2017, continues to be a key platform for international cultural cooperation.
Greece has gifted a painting of the Virgin Mary, titled *Queen of the Bees*, to Notre Dame Cathedral during its grand reopening ceremony. Created by a Mount Athos monk, the artwork commemorates the miraculous survival of 200,000 rooftop bees during the devastating 2019 fire. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou presented the symbolic gift in a gesture of friendship and resilience, joining 40 world leaders for the celebration.
The resolution calls on Member States to ensure documented proof of origin and export certificates for cultural goods traded internationally, including those traded online. In a groundbreaking move, the decision expresses serious concern about cultural property removed before the 1970 Convention entered into force and calls for its return. This is a pivotal step in recognising the importance of cultural identity and heritage for countries of origin.
Dutch and French authorities dismantled the sophisticated encrypted messaging service “Matrix” used by suspected criminals, intercepting 2.3 million messages and leading to arrests in France, Spain, and Lithuania. The investigation began after the service was discovered on the phone of a suspect in the Peter R. de Vries murder case.
Tuwaiq 4, a multinational military exercise, has commenced in Saudi Arabia. Participating nations include Greece, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, the UK, and the US.
In a landmark operation spanning multiple countries, Italian police dismantled a major illegal streaming network serving over 22 million users across Europe. Dubbed “Operation Takendown,” the crackdown, which involved international collaboration with Europol and Eurojust, resulted in the seizure of more than 2,500 illegal channels and servers, disrupting a piracy operation generating €250 million monthly. This operation marks a significant victory in the battle against audio-visual piracy and demonstrates the increasing importance of cyber security in law enforcement efforts.
In a significant act of cultural cooperation, a marble head from Roman times has been returned to Greece by the University of Münster in Germany. The artifact, a portrait dating back to around 150 AD, is now exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni emphasized the importance of such repatriations, which highlight the joint efforts to preserve and honor Greece’s rich archaeological heritage.
A minor in Cyprus has been identified as the sender of fake bomb threat emails targeting Greek airports on January 7, 2024. Through international collaboration involving Europol and Eurojust, authorities traced the emails to the minor, seizing electronic devices during a search of their home. Charges have been filed against the minor for threatening a terrorist act, and the parents face charges for neglecting supervision.