Taking steps toward a global role
The successes accomplished by the Hellenic Navy in response to and as part of the international fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia as well as its contribution to the EU anti-piracy operation Atlanta has had a positive effect on international shipping in general and on Greek national interests in particular, as it has greatly elevated Greece’s image in the international arena. The country’s participation in the international peacekeeping effort in Afghanistan is also significant, as the recent, if slight, increase in Greek troops in the troubled region will give the country greater leverage that can be used to advance national issues on the international agenda. These two examples of Greece’s participation in international efforts go a long way toward showing that maintaining a steady presence and active involvement in events that are of global significance ought to be the order of the day, as they bolster the country’s reputation and significantly increase its bargaining power when it comes to important matters of national interest.
