The United States and Greece will continue their long-standing defense deal after both countries signed an agreement in Washington D.C. on Thursday.

The Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement is designed to mutually safeguard and protect the sovereignty of each country, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said at the ceremony.

“The revision of the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement we will sign is symbolically and substantially the foundation of our long-term partnership,” Dendias said.

The U.S. and Greece, both NATO allies with strong political and economic ties, renewed their agreement for five more years.

Also speaking at the ceremony, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the defense agreement will allow the U.S. to maintain the several military bases it has in Greece indefinitely.

“We’re strengthening our defense cooperation today,” Blinken said. “This update will allow the agreement to remain in force indefinitely. And it enables our forces in Greece to train and operate from additional locations.”

Greece has sought to maintain close military cooperation with the U.S. and other NATO allies as longtime disputes with Turkey over sea and airspace boundaries continue. The renewal of their agreement comes no more than three weeks after Greece bought three warships from France as part of a $3.5 billion defense deal.

Featured image: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias shake hands after signing the renewal of the U.S.-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement at the State Department in Washington, U.S. October 14, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst