Greece Reportedly Set to Approve 3.5 Billion Euro Air Defence Purchase Involving Israeli Systems

Reuters reported, citing two sources, that Greece’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Government Commission, known as KYSEA, was planning to give final approval to a multi-layered air defence system for Israel worth 3.5 billion euros. The report said the approval was expected on the 23rd, though the source does not name the month.

An informed official told Reuters that KYSEA had already approved the purchase earlier this year and that the purchase contract was now expected to be formally approved. The same official said KYSEA would also approve the purchase of drones to the United States and Israel. A second official confirmed that Greece would buy national defence systems and drones from Israel.

According to the report, Greece currently uses the United States’ Patriot system and the older Russian S-300 system to defend its airspace. Athens hopes to build a multi-layered system called Achilles’ Shield that could intercept missiles, aircraft and drones. The report said Israeli radar and missiles from Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems would be at the heart of that system. The source also refers to a helicopter purchase tied to a March 25 date, but gives no further detail on it.

Reuters also reported that the Greek government plans to invest 28 billion euros in modern armaments by 2036. This includes 40 new F-35 fighters from the United States, along with French and Italian cruise ships. The report noted Greece’s long-standing sovereignty dispute with Turkey and said its national defence spending is almost 3.5 percent of gross domestic product, which is higher than many other NATO member countries.

Greece and Israel are closely connected economically and diplomatically, according to the report. The two countries operate a joint training centre on Greek territory, hold a joint military show each year, and cooperate on air defence and internet security systems. Defence planning of this scale carries heavy responsibility, a call to peacemaking (Matthew 5:9).

Last year, the report said, Greece approved the purchase of 36 Israeli rocket systems for approximately 650 million euros.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)