There may be no verbal or aerial challenges from Turkey, but the threat from the danger from the East is still present.
In this context, the Greek Armed Forces continue to exercise as and where they will be called upon to fight. The arc of a possible confrontation will not only be in Evros and the islands of the East Aegean but also probably south of Crete where, according to all indications, hydrocarbon deposits are located.
The General Staff of the Army has released footage and photos from an exercise of the 5th Airborne Brigade, also known as "V CRETAN DIVISION". And given that Turkey continues to reinforce its positions in Libya, this unit, which is at least theoretically airborne and we say theoretically as the headache with the inadequacy of air transport of soldiers that plagues the Greek armed forces is well known, is of great importance as it sends at least a message of deterrence. A message of deterrence that shows that Greece does not have its southern border unguarded.
From November 30 to December 15, 2023, an operational training was conducted in the Area of Responsibility of the 5th Airborne Brigade "V Cretan Division", with the participation of units and assets of the 5th Airborne Brigade "V Cretan Division", the 1st Army Aviation Brigade "KILKIS LAHANA", 1 pair of F-16 aircraft in Air Force Close Air Support missions, 1 frigate and 1 navy tanker.
The purpose of the action was to train personnel in realistic tactical scenarios, promote interdisciplinarity and common operational understanding.
The operational training included the conduct of the Post-Troop Tactical Exercise "MINOAS - 23", co-training with the Armadillo "IKARIA" as well as numerous operational items.
The 5th Division was formed in September 1912 shortly before the beginning of the First Balkan War as part of the military mobilization of Greece and the other Balkan states. The first commander was Colonel Dimitrios Matthaiopoulos and included the 16th, 22nd, 23rd Infantry Regiments, the 3rd Squadron of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment and the 2nd Mountain Artillery Squadron.
On 1 July 2004, as part of a general reorganization of the Greek Army structure, the division was disbanded and reorganized as the 5th Infantry Brigade. However, on 20 October 2009 it was renamed V Cretan Division. In an extensive defence review in 2013, the formation was transformed into the 5th Airborne Brigade for rapid response in the southern Aegean. It retained, however, its traditional name "V Cretan Division" as an honorary title.
