Even if Italy remained at war and fighting continued in Greece, Allied convoys could follow the North African coast through the Mediterranean to resupply the Far East with fewer interruptions. The stronger Allied position would also affect the defence of Crete. German airborne troops might still attack, but the scenario removes amphibious support and reduces the historical Italian contribution. Those changes underpin the expectation that the Allies could hold the island.
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Convoy routes from the Mediterranean to the Far East
A stronger Allied Mediterranean position might reopen more direct convoy routes toward the Far East.