Greece Strengthening Role in Eastern Mediterranean
Benefiting from its important geopolitical position in the Eastern Mediterranean near the Middle East, Greece seeks to enhance its role in the region.
Greek soldiers in Thessaloniki, Greece, on October 28, 2024. (AFP / SAKIS MITROLIDIS)
A missile defense system and “deepening” cooperation with Israel. On Monday, April 6, Greece signed a contract with the Israeli company Elbit System to acquire a rocket artillery system as part of the modernization of its armed forces.
The Hellenic Ministry of National Defence’s General Directorate of Equipment and Investments announced the signing of
“a state-to-state agreement for the acquisition of the Precise & Universal Launching System (PULS) rocket artillery system”. The cost of this purchase is approximately 690 million euros, according to a Greek source close to the matter.
In addition to the launchers, this contract includes ammunition and missiles, as well as
long-term system maintenance, as stated by the source. Greek media reports that the contract will be implemented over a four-year period, followed by an additional ten-year period for system maintenance and support.
Elbit Systems will act as the “prime contractor and provide the PULS launchers with a complete set of ammunition”.
Extensive 26 Billion Euro Program
Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, expressed satisfaction with
“the expansion of defense cooperation and defense agreements”, which he believes reflects “the deepening of the strategic security partnership between Israel and Greece”.
Greece, a member of the EU and NATO, announced a comprehensive program to modernize its armed forces at the end of 2024, involving investments of around 26 billion euros in the sector by 2036. This massive investment includes strengthening anti-aircraft defense systems and upgrading its current anti-aircraft system – that is, its multi-layered weapons system – with new weapons, drones, or radars to replace obsolete systems.
Benefiting from its important geopolitical position in the Eastern Mediterranean near the Middle East, Greece aims to strengthen its role in the region.
The country allocates over 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defense.
