Greece to deepen defence ties with Israel while expanding Arab outreach
Greece will continue defence cooperation with Israel while deepening Middle East ties, PM Mitsotakis says.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said Greece will maintain its strategic defence partnership with Israel while simultaneously working to strengthen relations with other Middle Eastern nations. The statement, made in Thessaloniki, comes as Athens balances its security commitments with broader regional diplomacy.
Greece and Israel have significantly deepened their defence, security, and energy cooperation over the past decade. The two countries finalised a €3 billion agreement in August for Israel to construct an air defence shield in Greece. Shared concerns regarding Turkey have been a key driver of this partnership.
Mitsotakis highlighted that Greece is among only five NATO members allocating at least 3.5 percent of GDP to core defence spending. This elevated expenditure reflects long-standing tensions with Turkey over sovereignty claims in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. Athens maintains that only maritime zone demarcation is open to negotiation or arbitration.
On the question of potential US sales of F-35 jets to Turkey, Mitsotakis said he would not dictate US policy but noted legal barriers remain due to Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 system. Greece itself expects delivery of its first 20 F-35 aircraft in late 2028, with an option for 20 additional units.
Mitsotakis also announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia, asserting that the recent Mecca Joint Defense Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey does not affect Greece's ties with Riyadh. Greece has maintained an air defence battery in Saudi Arabia since 2021, using Patriot missiles four times since July to intercept drones and ballistic missiles.
A visit to Cairo is scheduled for Tuesday for talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi.