Greece and NATO on Its 75th Anniversary

As NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary, Greece has become an invaluable alliance member in its strategic role, positioned in the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established on this day in April 1949. Its founding members are Belgium, France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

The alliance was created in order to provide collective security against the rising Soviet Union threat and block nationalist militarism in Europe.

Greece joined NATO in 1952 three years after a devastating civil war in which the Soviet Union played a crucial covert role. Neighboring Turkey became a member the same year. Since then, eighteen more European countries joined the Alliance, with the last being Sweden, which joined on March 7, 2024. Today, NATO is comprised of 32 allied countries.

The three principal missions of the Alliance are: deterrence and defense, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.

The role of Greece in NATO

Fotios Kotzakioulafis, NATO Defense & Security Analyst in Greece, spoke to Greek Reporter about the role of Greece in the Alliance:

“As NATO commemorates its 75th anniversary, Greece is a steadfast member whose commitment to the alliance remains unwavering. Greece’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa underscores its vital role in NATO’s defense architecture, serving as a rampart against emerging security threats in the region.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has often praised Greece for its role in the sensitive Eastern Mediterranean region. Kotzakioulafis corroborates:

“Through its active participation in NATO missions and operations, Greece demonstrates its dedication to collective security and defense. From contributing troops to peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans to conducting joint exercises with allied forces, Greece is pivotal in promoting stability and cooperation within the alliance.”

At the same time, Greece has benefited from NATO, as the Alliance is instrumental in enhancing the country’s defense capabilities. “NATO has been instrumental in bolstering Greece’s defense capabilities and enhancing interoperability with allied nations,” the Greek analyst said. “Through joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and defense cooperation initiatives, Greece has been able to modernize its armed forces and effectively respond to evolving security challenges.”

He further added:

“The NATO alliance provides Greece with a crucial framework for defense cooperation, enabling it to effectively address common security threats, including terrorism, cyber-attacks, and regional instability. By leveraging NATO’s collective capabilities and resources, Greece can better protect its territorial integrity and safeguard its national interests.”

In assessing the mutual benefits between Greece and NATO and the future outlook, Kotzakioulafis appears optimistic:

“As we reflect on NATO’s 75 years of collective defense, it’s evident that Greece’s membership in the alliance has been vital in ensuring peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region. Looking ahead, Greece remains committed to upholding NATO’s core values and principles, standing shoulder to shoulder with its allies to confront the challenges of the 21st century.”

How members view NATO

Since its inception, NATO has been interested in how the people of member states view the alliance. The organization runs a public opinion research program to inform decision-making, strategy, and planning. Through nationally representative surveys, NATO tracks respondents’ opinions about each country’s security environment. The alliance derives its legitimacy from the ongoing support of its member countries and their populations.

In a poll conducted among eleven member states in spring 2023, people’s views of NATO were favorable. Across these states, a median of 62 percent have a positive view of NATO, while 31 percent have an unfavorable view of the military alliance.

Favorable views of NATO are highest in Poland, where 93 percent of respondents hold a positive view of the defense organization. In the Netherlands, UK, Germany and Italy roughly two-thirds or more have a positive view of the alliance. Among Americans, 62 percent have a favorable view of NATO, compared with 35 percent who hold a negative  view. Canadians’ responses were similar.

In France and Hungary, people view NATO in a positive manner. In Spain, over half of the respondents have a favorable view of NATO, as well. Among NATO countries surveyed, Greece is the only one where a majority view the alliance unfavorably.

Even though Sweden was not an alliance member at the time of the survey, as it was awaiting the approval of Hungary and Turkey, the Swedes expressed a very favorable view of NATO.