{
  "id": 4643355,
  "title": "Israel and Greece sign a multi-billion-dollar weapons deal, the largest between the countries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-and-greece-sign-a-multi-billion-dollar-weapons-deal-the-4643355",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T11:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/israel-greece-weapons-deal-5bcedf73e5b5f6f5e3653405abdc70b9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tel Aviv, Israel — In a significant multi-billion-dollar weapons deal, Israel signed a defense export pact with Greece on Monday, marking the largest agreement between the two Mediterranean nations. Dubbed the Achilles Shield, the 3 billion Euro ($3.5 billion) deal represents one of Israel's largest arms exports, incorporating a comprehensive air defense system utilizing Israeli technology. Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, highlighted the shared strategic interests of the two countries and the need to counter regional threats amid the presence of hegemonic powers aspiring to expand their influence in the region.\n\nThe deal reflects the surge in Israeli arms exports, which reached a record high of over $19 billion in 2024, a 30% increase from the previous year, despite ongoing criticism of Israel's actions in conflicts involving Gaza, Hezbollah, and Iran. Experts attribute the trust in Israeli weapons to their battle-tested nature and the real-time verification of their effectiveness.\n\nDefense ties between Israel and Greece have strengthened over the past decade, with Monday's signing representing the most substantial agreement to date. The pact includes a multilayered air defense system, drawing on numerous Israeli systems such as David Sling, SPYDER, and a new national command and control system. This is Israel's first comprehensive provision of defense weapons, ranging from ballistic missile defenses to drones.\n\nEarlier agreements between the two nations encompassed a $1.65 billion contract with Israeli defense contractor Elbit for a flight training school in Greece and the anticipated sale of Israeli rocket launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, and drones. Greece acknowledges that outdated defense doctrines are now deemed \"completely unrealistic,\" while Israel maintains that this agreement provides a complete array of defense weaponry to counter a broad spectrum of threats. The deal also includes a $30 million (26 million Euro) contract for the sale of Rafael’s Drone Dome systems.",
  "summary": "TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel signed a multi-billion-dollar weapons deal with Greece, the largest between the two Mediterranean countries, as Israeli defense exports soar. Israel’s Defense Ministry said Monday the 3 billion Euro (about $3.5 billion)…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Israel signs three-billion-euro arms export deal with Greece",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-signs-three-billion-euro-arms-export-deal-with-greece",
        "published": "2026-08-31T08:56:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Israel signs 3 billion euro defence deal with Greece, defence ministry says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-signs-3-billion-euro-defence-deal-with-greece-defence-ministry",
        "published": "2026-08-31T09:03:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Israel lands massive €3 billion ‘Achilles Shield’ deal with Greece",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-lands-massive-3-billion-achilles-shield-deal-with-greece",
        "published": "2026-08-31T09:04:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Achilles Shield: Israel, Greece sign over NIS 10b. air defense deal against Turkey, Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/achilles-shield-israel-greece-sign-over-nis-10b-air-defense-deal",
        "published": "2026-08-31T09:34:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Israel signs €3 billion arms export deal with Greece",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-signs-3-billion-arms-export-deal-with-greece",
        "published": "2026-08-31T10:02:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Israel and Greece sign a multi-billion-dollar weapons deal, the largest between the countries",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-and-greece-sign-a-multi-billion-dollar-weapons-deal-the",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:31:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Israel signs €3 billion arms export deal with Greece, defence ministry says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-signs-3-billion-arms-export-deal-with-greece-defence-ministry",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:34:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Israel Signs 3 Billion Euro Arms Export Deal with Greece",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/israel-signs-3-billion-euro-arms-export-deal-with-greece",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:40:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Greece inks record $3.5 billion deal to buy comprehensive missile defense system from Israel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/greece-inks-record-3-5-billion-deal-to-buy-comprehensive-missile",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:47:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}