19.02.2025 09:10
Greece, closely monitoring Turkey's military actions, has accelerated its defense spending due to increasing public pressure. Despite economic difficulties, Prime Minister Mitsotakis has set a budget of 28 billion euros for armament.
Greece has started to take aggressive steps in armament by closely monitoring Turkey's military developments.
Despite economic difficulties, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has implemented a €28 billion armament package to increase the country's defense capacity. This move is said to have been prompted by a panic created by Turkey's Typhoon missile, the flight of the KAAN aircraft, the Kızılelma UAV, the TCG Anadolu ship, the Iron Dome air defense system, and the construction of 31 warships.
"TURKEY'S MOVES ARE AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT"
According to a report by Yeşim Erarslan from the Turkey newspaper, the Greek government has rolled up its sleeves to implement a new armament program worth €25-28 billion between 2025 and 2037. The Mitsotakis administration has made an agreement to purchase 20 to 40 F-35 fighter jets from the USA, describing Turkey's rapidly developing defense projects as "an existential threat."
THEY WILL ALSO PURCHASE DEFENSE SYSTEMS FROM ISRAEL
Greece is also planning to acquire new frigates from France and Germany, Island-class patrol vessels from the USA, and air defense systems similar to the "Iron Dome" used against missiles and UAVs from Israel. Additionally, it has been reported that modernization efforts for the existing F-16s and frigates will be accelerated.
"AMMUNITION SHORTAGE"
Defense expert Turan Oğuz stated that while the platforms acquired are important, the shortage of ammunition poses a significant problem when evaluating Greece's defense program. Oğuz emphasized that Greece has received 24 Rafale fighter jets but has only ordered 36 Meteor missiles and has not made new missile purchases. This shortfall reveals that Greece has a significant ammunition gap. He pointed out that if weapons are acquired, securing this ammunition would also incur significant costs. Furthermore, a lack of ammunition without weapon systems could limit Greece's defense capability.