"NATO is the world's most successful military alliance and I expect it will continue to make a tremendous contribution in the future," Jones said during a visit to Athens.

"I don't see any complication from my standpoint at all."

Three months ago NATO suffered one of its worst ever crises when France, Belgium and Germany blocked a US request to bolster Turkey's defences in preparation for the Iraq war.

Jones held talks in Athens with Greek Foreign minister George Papandreou, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

Papandreou said the discussions had addressed EU defence policy as well as the new role and structure NATO will adopt after the admission of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia from May next year.

"Within the framework of its cooperation with Balkans countries, Greece is always ready to contribute to their efforts to align themselves with transatlantic structures," Papandreou said.

Jones also met with Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, who said he had informed the NATO commander of "decisions taken at European level concerning the acquisition of armaments systems which would enable a European force to take part, with NATO or alone, in international operations".

During discussions, Papantoniou stressed Greece's determination to "maintain a strong presence" within NATO's future structure, arguing that with military expenditure reaching five percent of GDP in 2000, Athens deserved to play a leading role within the alliance.

NATO is due to cut its number of regional command headquarters after it welcomes seven new members next year.

Greece, which hosts one such command centre in the central town of Tyrnavo, is concerned that it be maintained.

Jones was due to remain in Greece until Tuesday, and was scheduled to hold talks with President Costis Stephanopoulos.

SPACE.WIRE