A diplomatic thriller between Moscow – Athens – Washington is taking place these days, after the United States asked NATO-partner Greece to ban two Russian flights to Syria via the Greek airspace. On Monday, Greece confirmed the US request however it declined to reveal its plans. “We examine the request,” Athens commented laconically.

The flights are said to carry humanitarian aid to Syria, but the USA suspects rather supply of military aid and fears that Moscow plans to vastly expand its military support for Assad’s regime.

The United States has asked Greece to ban Russian supply flights to Syria from its airspace, a Greek official said Monday, amid growing US fears that Moscow is increasing its military backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Confirming the US request a Greek foreign ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We received the (US) request on Saturday and are examining it”. Russia has asked Greece, which is a NATO member, to permit the passage of two planes between September 1 and 24, the Greek official said.

Greece is in difficult position as to which partner it wants to satisfy, partners, nevertheless due to the economic crisis. The previous SYRIZA-led government sought to boost Greek-Russian relations with multiple visits of Greek government officials to Moscow, however the ‘warming up’ was abruptly put on ice when the government resign. It is unclear, what the snap elections results will be and if the Greek-Russian relations will be back on track.

The USA remains as strong partner not only due to NATO-bounds but also due to the influence of President Barack Obama to the International Monetary Fund.

Russia described a possible flight ban as “unfriendly action” and suggested it may seek for alternative ways via Iran or Turkey, which is also a NATO-member.

At the same time, Russia warned Greece it may also ban Greek flights via Russian FIR.

“Any country is entitled to close its airspace, but the big question is ‘Does Greece need to or not?’, because we too can do the same thing regarding their flights,” Leonid Kalashnikov, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Duma, the lower house of parliament, was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti. “The Russian side has never concealed the fact that it is sending military equipment to the Syrian authorities to help them fight terrorism,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP earlier on Monday, commenting on the Kerry-Lavrov phone talks. A Russian senator told the country’s RIA Novosti state agency that if Greece closes its air space for Russian planes Moscow would find other routes. “This is a silly move and if Greece moves to support it then it would also be unfriendly towards Russia,” senator Vladimir Dzhabarov was quoted as saying. He suggested that Russia could turn to countries like Iran and Turkey for help.”

I have no idea what Greece’s interim Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis will decide about the flights, he may want to leave the hot potato in the hands of his successor – if there is a new Greek government on September 24th.

UPDATE

Russia made the choice?

“Russia plans to use an air route to the east of Greece to transport aid into Syria, meaning the use of Greek airspace for such flights is no longer an issue,” a Greek government spokesman told Reuters later on Tuesday.