With tension rising in the Central African Republic, Athens is prepared to discuss the possibility of hosting the command of a possible European military operation, at the European Union operation center in Larissa. Talks are scheduled to take place at the General Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.
Both the political and military leadership at the Greek Ministry of National Defense are in favor of such an initiative. During Evangelos Venizelos’ recent trip to Paris where he met French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius, it was clarified that the deployment of Greek troops would not be necessary. Initial estimations suggest that the European operation would involve a military force of up to 1,000 soldiers.
France has already deployed military forces in the Central African Republic, in an effort to stop the conflict that kicked off when the Islamist guerilla group Seleka assumed power. The conflict has seen the country’s Muslim and Christian populations violently turn on each other and so far about 1,000,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes.
With the situation in the former French colony deteriorating, France is asking for its European partners to contribute in the operation, as part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. If European forces hold the country’s airport, allowing the uninterrupted distribution of humanitarian help, France will be able to focus its military forces on advancing.
Irrespective of what decision is taken on Monday, Greece will also need the UN’s Security Council to commit to any plans. By providing the command center in Larissa, which one of five centers available to the EU, Greece will hope to improve its status, while avoiding the pressure to deploy troops.
Additionally, by providing the base in Larissa, Greece will avoid activating the “EU battlegroups”. This year, the EU battlegroup is based in Kilkis and number 1,400 men (of whom 1,050 belong to the 71st Airborne Brigade), which Greece would have to deploy if requested.
