ATHENS – Attaching itself even closer to an expanded United States military presence in the country, Greece is getting an offer from China to also boost military ties in Beijing’s push to do the same in three other countries.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe visited the Greek capital on March 29 as part of a weeklong visit to the EU and was received by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who does symbolic duties.

That stop came after Wei first went to Hungary and as he will follow up after Greece with visits to North Macedonia and Serbia, following invitations from the defense ministers, China’s Ministry of National Defense was quoted as saying by the country’s state-run news portal Global Times

The Chinese official’s visit to Europe aims to “further promote the traditional friendship and practical cooperation with the defence departments and armies of these countries, and push forward a healthy and stable development of military-to-military relations,” according to the Chinese Ministry.

But it wasn’t said specifically what that meant and what China would provide and what it wants, Greece now working with American military forces in the country and hosting a US Naval Base at Souda Bay on Crete.