A group of Greek paratrooper trainers assigned to the European Union Military Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM-Moz) were recently honored for their commitment, over the course of a semester, to the capacity building and training exercises of the national special forces.

The EUTM-Moz mission, currently headed by Portuguese Major General João Gonçalves, decided to recognize Greece in particular for its consistency in sending military experts on a rotating basis since 2022 to reinforce the military training levels of the Mozambican force fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.

According to a note we have seen, from 2022 to the present, Greece has sent 35 paratroopers to the country who, over the last two years, have played a crucial role in training around 1,700 officers from the Mozambican army's special forces.

During the ceremony to decorate the Greek contingent, the individual and collective qualities of the Greek specialists were highlighted, as well as their impact on actions to strengthen Mozambique's military capacity, thus contributing to the establishment of peace and security in the country.

The Honorary Consul General of Greece in Maputo, Gerry Marketos, expressed his pride at the award to the Greek contingent, saying that "These awards are a just recognition of the effort and dedication of the military, whose tireless work has been crucial in making the Mozambican troops more capable and resilient. It is an honour to see Greek officers being recognized for their valor and commitment to peace."

Also on the occasion, Gerry Marketos said that, in the wake of this year's meeting between the Defense Ministers of Mozambique and Greece, during the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union, which took place in Brussels, a new window of cooperation has been opened that will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

As a result of the meeting, Greece reaffirmed its participation in the new phase of the European Union mission, which is due to start next September, this time under the name EUMAM Mozambique - European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique.

In addition, Greece assured the Mozambican state that it would continue to grant scholarships to officers of the Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (FADM), so that they would be increasingly ready to ensure peace and security in the country.

Since January 2022, EUTM-Moz has supported Mozambique in various fields, with emphasis on military training, including operational preparedness; specialized training, covering counterterrorism; training and education on the protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law; promotion of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Among the national forces included are the Mozambican Navy's Marine companies and the Army's Special Forces.

The Greek government, represented by its consulate in Mozambique, reaffirms its continued commitment to supporting the Mozambican forces in eradicating the sources of destabilization that undermine the well-being of the population.

Photo DR