US defense chief meets with Greek counterpart

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The top Greek and American defense officials reaffirmed their countries' "defense relationship" during a bilateral meeting Friday.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis "discussed a broad range of defense issues, including regional security in the Balkans and Black Sea, and the regional effects of great power competition with Russia and China," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman added that they "agreed to continue working together on NATO burden-sharing and defense modernization priorities" and said Shanahan lauded efforts by Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia to implement a resolution to a long-standing dispute over the latter's name.

Hoffman said the Prespa agreement "will ultimately result in the expansion of the NATO alliance," referring to North Macedonia's likely accession into the transatlantic organization.

Last June, the country -- previously known as Macedonia -- agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia under a deal in which Greece dropped its objection to North Macedonia joining NATO and the EU.