Sparks also flew within the NATO framework this week as the new Greek government attempts to find its European and international “groove”, with Athens on Thursday angrily responding to the German defence minister’s comment of “Greeece jeopardizing its position in NATO by approaching Russian interests.”

As expected, it didn’t take long for new Greek DM Panos Kammenos — who’s not considered a stoic personality — to issue a sharp-tongued rebuke delivered in WWII packaging.

“Greece has always been on the side of the Allies when they fought back German occupation armies … The behavior and statements of German politicians, which seem to wish to replace NATO and EU officials, are not only disallowed but approach blackmail”.

Kammenos also blamed German DM Ursula von der Leyen for trying to “undermine European institutions, part of German aims to break apart the EU and NATO”.

“Greece is unwilling to replace Germany in its privileged relations with Russia”, he added.