WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who heads Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has written Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to urge more support to Greece in its efforts to confront the devastating fires raging across the country.

The New Jersey Democrat, who is a close ally of Greece and the Greek-American community, wrote that “Greece is a close and valued NATO ally. I urge the Administration to take all measures necessary to support the people of Greece in their time of need,” reported Kathimerini.

Menendez said in the letter he was glad the US sent P8 patrol aircraft to Greece to provide aerial lookouts around residential areas and places were the fires could spread as firefighters had their hands full.

“These efforts have saved lives and I urge the Department to fulfill additional requests for assistance, including the deployment of CH-47 helicopters,” he wrote, with 22 countries already sending help. Find a copy of the letter online: shorturl.at/quEK0 and below:

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing to request that the Department of Defense provide support to the Hellenic Republic in its efforts to confront devastating fires. I applaud the Department’s deployment of P8 aircraft to Greece to provide enhanced situational awareness of the threats to infrastructure and residential areas. These efforts have saved lives and I urge the Department to fulfill additional requests for assistance, including the deployment of CH-47 helicopters.

Greece is a close and valued NATO ally. I urge the Administration to take all measures necessary to support the people of Greece in their time of need.

Sincerely,

Robert Menendez

Chairman