The “Amalthea” planit may have gone out of the limelight (in terms of publicity) but it has not gone out of the plans of the Americans. The United States has taken upon itself the issue of the humanitarian corridor, which is recorded at various levels, diplomatically and militarily.
At the diplomatic level, last night a briefing of the permanent missions to the United Nations. The briefing on the “Amalthia” humanitarian corridor, which aims to transport aid from Cyprus to Gaza, was held jointly by the United States and the Republic of Cyprus.
However, beyond this specific joint event of the permanent delegations of the United States and the Republic of Cyprus, Washington proceeded to plan other informational meetings for the “Amalthia” project. In the coming days – as Nicosia has been informed – the US diplomatic missions in the European Union, Asia and Latin America are organizing large-scale informational meetings in the capitals where they are located.
The briefing will have to do with the presentation of the whole plan and how in practice the humanitarian aid will be transferred from Larnaca to Gaza. it is not dead but on the contrary intensive processes are being carried out in order to be fully implemented.
However, apart from the diplomatic mobilizations, at the military level it is expected that within the next 24 hours the construction of the problem on the coast of Gaza will begin which will help in the transfer of humanitarian aid from the sea to the land. The aid will be transported by ships that will travel from Larnaca to Gaza.
The entire US naval mission was stationed at the Souda base in Greece before proceeding to Gaza to build the pier.
According to a publication of the Israeli newspaper “Jerusalem Post” the ships belong to the 7th Transportation Brigade of the 18th Airborne Corps of the American army.In March US Central Command said ships “from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Support Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis as ’ en route to the Eastern Mediterranean to establish a roll-on, roll-off docking capability that allows the ship to land humanitarian aid in Gaza. SP4 James A. Loux, Monterrey, Matamoros and Wilson Wharf are carrying equipment and supplies needed to establish a temporary wharf to deliver vital humanitarian supplies.”
According to the Vessel Finder website the ships are now anchored at the Crete naval base located in Souda Bay. These include USAV Matamoros, USAV James A. Loux, USAV Montorrey and USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. The USAV Wilson’s Wharf however appears to be in the Canary Islands in a port near Tenerife. It is not clear why it is behind schedule or if it was sent on a different mission.
It should also be noted that the US armada's voyage is an important logistical test to see how these ships can cross oceans and carry key capabilities into a conflict zone. If they reach Gaza, it will provide much-needed training in a real-time crisis.
The ships departed Fort Eustis on the James River on March 12 to cross the Atlantic Ocean and reach Gaza. They traveledalong the Chesapeake Bay and then headed south along the Carolina coast into the open sea, passing Bermuda to reach the coasts of Spain and Africa before crossing the Mediterranean.
They are located in same side
The positions of Cypriot and American officials have made it clear that Cyprus and the US are on the same side regarding the crisis in the Middle East but mainly regarding finding ways to transfer of humanitarian aid from Larnaca to Gaza.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Konstantinos Kombos, in his recent statements made it clear what is the orientation of Cyprus. On the other hand, the US ambassador, Julie Fisher, speaking at the Delphi Forum, praised the efforts of Cyprus for the region.
She noted that “it is not only a matter of geography but it is also the position of the Christodoulidis government: ” For me and for Washington, the Amalthea project was not a surprise either”, he said characteristically, saying that both President Christodoulidis and the other partners in this project realized in time that no one can achieve it alone”.
