Israel signs three-billion-euro arms export deal with Greece

On Monday, Israel and Greece concluded a €3 billion arms export agreement, according to Israel's Defense Ministry. The accord entailed the construction of a sophisticated, multi-faceted air defense system entirely composed of Israeli-made weaponry, as stated in a ministry release. This system would leverage Israel's extensive operational expertise gained during the conflict with Iran, a reference the ministry hinted at.

The "Achilles Shield" arrangement involves the shipment of multiple systems, including the David's Sling and SPYDER, from Rafael; and BARAK MX, from Israel Aerospace Industries, as reported by the Times of Israel. The deal was formalized at Israel's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv by Director General Amir Baram and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras.

This agreement forms part of a broader military modernization initiative, as cited by Reuters. By 2036, Greece aims to invest around €28 billion in an anti-ballistic missile, anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, known as the "Achilles Shield." This also includes acquiring fighter jets from the United States, and naval vessels from France and Italy.

Currently, Greece utilizes a combination of US-made Patriot air defense missiles, Russian S-300 systems, and other short-range air defenses. The negotiations for this deal spanned approximately three years, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. Israel and Greece, sharing robust economic and diplomatic relations, have been collaborating on various fronts, including an air training center in Greece, joint annual military exercises, and cooperation on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity.

This marks the largest defense export deal in the history of their relations, and one of the most significant in Israel's history. Greece has a protracted dispute with Turkey over territorial, maritime, and air sovereignty issues in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean. Recently, in response to threats from Iran during the ongoing war, Greece relocated a Patriot air defense system to the island of Crete, home to a significant US base at Souda.