February 6, 2024.- The Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Kingdom of Spain, H.E. Mr. Ilias Fotopoulos, accompanied by the Defence Attaché, Captain Marios Arvanitakis, visited the Centre of Excellence Against Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED COE) on Tuesday, where he was received by its Director, Colonel Javier Corbacho Margallo, and by representatives of the twelve nations that are part of the Center.
During the visit, the Ambassador received a presentation from the Colonel-Director on the Centre's many research, analysis and training activities and its position as a NATO reference centre in the C-IED fight. The Director of the Centre of Excellence highlighted in his presentation the importance of the fight against IED systems, which is not only their most visible aspect, the explosive and its effects, but all the previous networks that lead to its design, preparation and placement. The Force's intelligence and training in these areas are the focus of the Center. During the colloquium held with the Ambassador, he expressed his interest in the evolution of the C-IED fight related to the latest developments at the world level and the degree of satisfaction with the Greek staff assigned to the Centre, from whom he was able to learn first-hand what the work they do consists of.
After the presentation, the Ambassador visited the facilities during which he was pleasantly impressed with the work of the Centre's staff. The Ambassador then signed the Book of Honour.
The Hellenic Republic was the last of the twelve nations that make up the Center that, in 2019, adhered to the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the C-IED COE in Hoyo de Manzanares and its functional relationship with the Supreme Allied Command for Transformation (SACT). Since then, the Hellenic Republic has had an officer stationed permanently at the Centre whose duties fall under the Defeat the Device Branch, Detection Section.