Israel to sign biggest-ever defense deal with Greece

On Monday, Israel and Greece inked a defence pact valued at over $3.4 billion, with Greece receiving a comprehensive defence array furnished by Israeli systems. The "Achilles Shield" arrangement is a cornerstone of the largest defence export deal in Israel's annals and marks the initial occasion of Israel supplying a complete defence array to another nation.

This deal is also complemented by a subsequent one, wherein Israel will provide Greece with advanced anti-drone capabilities. The accord arrives amidst mounting tensions between Israel and Turkey, with both countries' senior officials ramping up their verbal sparring. Greece and Turkey, both NATO members and long-standing rivals in the eastern Mediterranean, are also witnessing a rise in conflict due to Greece's quest to upgrade its defensive measures.

The "Achilles Shield" package encompasses Israeli systems like David’s Sling, Spyder, and Barak MK, all manufactured by Israeli defence companies Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries. Moreover, both nations pledged to augment their industrial defence cooperation. Greece presently dedicates 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product to defence, a proportion higher than most NATO members.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz hailed the deal as a testament to the robust strategic bond between Israel and Greece and their shared resolve to bolster such ties. Katz emphasized that in an era when authoritarian entities seek to augment their influence and destabilize regional stability, Israel and Greece will persist in deepening their defence and strategic cooperation, unwavering in their resolve to maintain stability and protect their security and mutual interests.

Throughout his tenure as a minister, Katz has consistently voiced his disdain for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In August, he criticized Erdogan for dragging Turkey into perilous ventures after Israel launched an airstrike in Syria, citing Syria's potential breach of an agreement permitting Turkish troops at an Aleppo airbase.