Evangelos Apostolakis

After Ankara launched an offshore drill for gas in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over Turkish violations.
"We must not be concerned over developments [in the region], said Apostolakis, adding that Athens had taken a series of actions "to prevent [Turkish] activities in Cyprus' EEZ."

Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis will not run in the upcoming general election, the leftist government said in a statement on Sunday.
The decision was made so that Apostolakis, a former chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), "is able to fulfill his national duty as political head of the Armed Forces, undistracted."

As tension escalates in the Eastern Mediterranean amid Turkey's intention to begin offshore drilling operations in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt has reiterated Washington's commitment to its alliance with Athens.

WASHINGTON - The US ponder their next diplomatic moves towards Turkey, as they share the concern of Athens about the aggression of its neighbor in Cyprus and the Aegean.

Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis on Thursday met with Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan to reaffirm US and Greek commitment to cooperation with the aim of strengthening bilateral defense and security and NATO.

Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis expressed concern Thursday over Turkey's destabilizing role in the region.

The Hellenic Navy has received its first modernized P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Lockheed Martin, the Greek Defense Ministry said.
The delivery, part of a US-Greece defense agreement that also includes the midlife upgrade of another four aircraft, was marked with a ceremony on Friday at Tanagra Air Base north of Athens.

The significant role played by the Greek diaspora in the US was highlighted on Monday during a meeting in Athens between Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis and American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis.

The meeting between the two officials, who also discussed regional security and Turkey's recent behavior, comes at a time of deepening Greek-US ties.

Greece's Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis met with US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt on Thursday to discuss security in the Eastern Mediterranean and other issues of bilateral interest.

This is the second meeting between the two officials this week, after Apostolakis met with the ambassador and visiting US Senator Robert Menendez on Monday. 

Greece's cooperation with its NATO allies and with the United States in particular is at an "excellent level," Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis said on Tuesday during a visit to an air base in Larissa, central Greece.