Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece will deepen strategic defense cooperation with Israel while broadening ties across the Middle East. Athens and Jerusalem signed a €3 billion ($3.5 billion) deal for an Israeli-built air-defense shield, and Greece remains one of five NATO members spending at least 3.5% of GDP on core defense. Mitsotakis reaffirmed ongoing tensions with Turkey over maritime claims, confirmed plans to visit Saudi Arabia, and will travel to Cairo for talks with Egypt’s president.
Greece Eyes Deeper Ties With Israel and Arab States as Defense Cooperation Expands
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivers a speech during Thessaloniki's international trade fair, in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)
Greece will press ahead with strategic defense cooperation with Israel while also seeking to deepen relations across the Middle East, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Sunday.
Over the past decade, ties between Athens and Jerusalem have tightened across defense, security and energy. On Aug. 31 the two governments signed a 3-billion-euro ($3.5 billion) agreement for Israel to build an air-defense shield in Greece—an emblematic project of the growing partnership.
Defense Spending and Regional Tensions
Mitsotakis told reporters in Thessaloniki that Greece is one of only five NATO members spending at least 3.5% of its GDP on core defense. That sustained spending level has been driven by recurring tensions with neighboring Turkey, particularly disputes over sovereignty and the delimitation of maritime zones in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. Athens says those maritime boundaries are the only issues to be negotiated or referred to international arbitration.
Armaments and Partnerships
On the topic of advanced jets, Mitsotakis noted reported U.S. interest in selling F-35 combat aircraft to Turkey but said he would not dictate U.S. policy while pointing out remaining legal obstacles after Turkey faced sanctions over its purchase of the Russian S-400 air-defense system. Greece is scheduled to take delivery of its first 20 F-35s in late 2028, with an option to buy 20 more.
Separately, Greece has maintained an air-defense battery in Saudi Arabia since 2021. Greek-operated Patriot missiles have been used multiple times since July to intercept drones and ballistic missiles that Riyadh says were launched from Yemen and targeted Saudi oil facilities.
Diplomacy Across the Region
Mitsotakis said he plans to visit Saudi Arabia soon and emphasized that the recently concluded Mecca Joint Defense Agreement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey does not alter Greece's ties with Riyadh. He is due to visit Cairo Tuesday for talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.
Context: The developments reflect Greece’s dual strategy of strengthening bilateral defense links—most prominently with Israel—while maintaining and expanding diplomatic and security relations with other Middle Eastern states.
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