HR8019-119

What This Bill Does

The U.S.-Greece Defense Cooperation Advancement Act authorizes the President to provide Greece with International Military Education and Training assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The authorized purposes are training future Greek military leaders, fostering better understanding of the United States, building rapport between the United States Armed Forces and Greece's military, improving interoperability and joint-operation capabilities, and focusing on professional military education, civilian control of the military, and protection of human rights. The bill authorizes $1,800,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 to carry out the Greece IMET assistance.

Who Benefits and How

Greek military officers benefit from access to U.S.-supported professional military education and leadership training. The Hellenic Armed Forces benefit from interoperability training and stronger operating relationships with the United States Armed Forces. United States defense planners benefit from a more interoperable NATO partner in the eastern Mediterranean. U.S. military education institutions benefit from authorized training activity for Greek participants. Human-rights and civilian-control advocates benefit because the statute ties the assistance to civilian control of the military and protection of human rights. Congressional foreign-affairs committees benefit from a clear authorization amount and five-year window.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The President and State Department security-assistance staff must administer IMET assistance for Greece within the authorized purposes and fiscal years. Defense Department training coordinators must support education, interoperability, and joint-operation training if the program is funded. Federal budget managers must account for the $1.8 million annual authorization from fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Greek military participants must meet program requirements and participate in U.S.-aligned training. U.S. foreign policy officials must manage the diplomatic signal sent by a Greece-specific security-assistance authorization.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes International Military Education and Training assistance for Greece under the Foreign Assistance Act.
• Allows assistance for future-leader training, U.S. understanding, military rapport, interoperability, and joint-operation capabilities.
• Directs emphasis on professional military education, civilian control of the military, and human-rights protection.
• Authorizes $1.8 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.