UAE's military chief visits site of exercises with Greece

The joint operations are being conducted on Crete

Lt Gen Hamad Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, who is visiting Greece. All photos by Wam

Lt Gen Hamad Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces with Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Minister for National Defence of Greece.

Lt Gen Hamad Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, with Gen Konstantinos Floros, chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

The Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces toured Greece as both sides seek to strengthen co-operation.

Lt Gen Hamad Al Rumaithi met Gen Konstantinos Floros, chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, and on Tuesday, inspected the site of joint military exercises taking place between the UAE and Greek air forces on Crete.

Lt Gen Al Rumaithi was briefed on the exercises and the training plan, state news agency Wam reported.

He held meetings with Gen Floros and Greek Minister for National Defence, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, regarding strengthening military co-operation.

At a ceremony in Athens, Lt Gen Al Rumaithi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a band played the national anthems of the Emirates and Greece.

Tensions are high in the region, particularly between Greece and Turkey regarding oil and gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On Tuesday, both countries agreed to talks over disputed maritime boundaries after the EU intervened.