ATHENS — Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, who is currently visiting Greece, on Tuesday inspected the site of joint military exercises between the UAE and Greek air forces in the Greek island of Crete.

He was received at the site by General Konstantinos Floros, the chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, and senior Emirati and Greek officers.

Al Rumaithi was briefed on the various stages of the exercises, the training plan, and the proposed scenarios.

Later, Al Rumaithi met separately with Grrek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and his Greek counterpart Gen. Konstantinos Floros.

The two meetings discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and joint action between the UAE and Greece, particularly in defense and military areas. Also reviewed were topics of mutual interest as well as means to exchange views and to accelerate military coordination and cross visits.

Al Rumaithi also visited the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens and laid a wreath as the band played the national anthems of both countries.