Initial thoughts on new Greek CHOD Giagkos

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/08/10
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SUBJECT: Initial thoughts on new Greek CHOD Giagkos

REF: IIR 6 837 0370 09; 06AUG2009

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Miller, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, STATE,
EXEC; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (S) SUMMARY. The August 6 replacement of Greek CHOD General
Dimitris Grapsas with Chief of the Air Force General Ioannis
Giagkos (YAH gos) set off a round of speculation in the press, but
appears consistent with general personnel practices. Further,
Giagkos at first glance appears to be more politically astute than
his predecessor, with a reputation of integrity and cool-headed
thinking. END SUMMARY.




2. (S/NF) On August 6, the MOD announced the retirement of Chief
of Defense General Dimitris Grapsas, following an unscheduled
meeting of the Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense
(KYSEA). The new CHOD is the former Air Force Chief, Lieutenant
General Ioannis Giagkos, who will pin on his fourth star for this
assignment. According to Athens DAO reporting, General Giagkos is
a highly respected "operational" airman who has a reputation of
impeccable integrity and cool-headed clear thinking.




3. (C) Most media reported that the change of leadership was due
to the fact that the Greek government wished to work better with
new NATO SYG Rasmussen and new leaders in the Turkish armed forces.
Grapsas' more hard-line position on Turkey and Cyprus issues also
often put him at odds with the Greek MFA. MOD Meimarakis, however,
denied any rifts with the outgoing CHOD, and invited him to remain
his "unofficial advisor" on national defense issues. While the
KYSEA's move appeared to be unplanned, it is worth noting that
Grapsas assumed command in August 2007, and two years is the normal
full-length of time for a Greek CHOD to serve. Giagkos' selection
also keeps with the Greek tradition of rotating service chiefs
through the CHOD position.




4. (C) Giagkos is publicly perceived as a military professional
who has both the experience of Greek-Turkish tensions in the Aegean
skies, as well as the political sense to perceive the bigger
picture beyond it. Greek Air Force officers are generally viewed
as more friendly to the U.S. than in other services by reason of
education, training, and common weapons systems, i.e. Greek
reliance on the A-7, F-4, and F-16. MOD sources suggest that
General Giagkos is not an exception to this, and that the new CHOD
will bring fresh thinking to tackling Greek-Turkish differences, as
well as engage more than his predecessor in the practice of
military diplomacy.




5. (C) We view Giagkos as positively oriented toward the U.S.,
though an ardent defender of Greek national interests. Under his
leadership, the Hellenic Air Force for the first time sent members
of its premier F-16 squadron to participate in the USAF's premier
exercise, Red Flag, in fall 2008. Giagkos has attended numerous
U.S. military schools, and was one of the first Greek F-16 pilots
to receive U.S. training. He also sought to improve USAF and HAF
relations and cooperation by establishing an exchange program,
whereby two U.S. pilots and two Greek pilots would live and work in
the others' nations and fly with their respective squadrons.
SPECKHARD