Greece to buy French fighter jets and frigates as tensions with Turkey rise in Mediterranean
- Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean rise over claims pitting Turkey against Greece and Cyprus to maritime areas
- Greece will buy new French-made fighter planes, frigates, helicopters and weapons systems amid heightened tensions
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a “robust” arms purchase programme and an overhaul of the country’s military amid rising tension with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean.
What appears to be Greece’s most ambitious military overhaul in nearly two decades was unveiled as it is engaged in a growing stand-off with Turkey over hydrocarbon resources and naval influence in the waters off their coasts.
The bitter row between the Nato allies has roped in other European powers and even sparked fears of more severe conflict.
“The time has come to reinforce the armed forces … these initiatives constitute a robust programme that will become a national shield,” Mitsotakis said in a keynote address in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Saturday.
Mitsotakis said Greece would acquire 18 French-made Rafale warplanes, four multipurpose frigates and four navy helicopters, while also recruiting 15,000 new troops and pouring resources into the national arms industry and cyberattack defence.
