Souda Bay US Naval Base 'best in the Med'

For the second time this month, residents and visitors at Souda Bay in northwestern Crete have the rare treat of being able to admire the awe-inspiring bulk of the USS George H.W. Bush supercarrier from close up as it is docked at the NATO port of Marathi.

The American presence in Souda has hit a new record over the past year, with dozens of military units having tied up at Marathi as the base there becomes increasingly important to allied activities in the broader region. Between Naval Station Norfolk on the east coast of the US and the Indian Ocean, the Souda base is the only one in the area that allows the US Navy fleet to dock, carry out repairs and maintenance and stock up on supplies. Little surprise then that Souda Bay has been nicknamed "Best in the Med" by the Americans.

US use of the Souda base has been increasing over the past few years, prompting the...