A renewed defense cooperation deal between the U.S. and Greece is designed to mutually safeguard and protect the sovereignty of each country, its Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Thursday.

“The revision of the mutual defense cooperation agreement we will sign in a few minutes is symbolically and substantially the foundation of our long-term partnership,” Dendias said.

Dendias made the comments from Washington where he signed an agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken which renews a defense cooperation deal between the two countries.