Greece’s Defence Minister has announced plans for a €25 billion (£21bn) splurge on military spending, as the country seeks to beef up its security. The announcement, coming at a time of high global tensions and fears Russia may launch another attack on Europe prompting World War 3, marks a radical change in policy and was described by Nikos Dendias as “an existential issue for the country”.
The new commitment to military spending comes after major government defence cuts between 2010 and 2018 in the wake of the financial crisis that gripped the country. Greece aims to move away from traditional defence systems to a high-tech, networked strategy.
This will be centred on mobile, AI-powered missile systems, drone technologies, and advanced command units, reducing reliance on conventional fleets.
“What we are proposing is an existential issue for the country — a complete shift in our defence approach, a total change in doctrine,” Dendias said.
“We’re moving away from the traditional thinking that the Aegean is defended solely by the fleet.”
A key component of the modernisation programme will be the air defence system called “Achilles Shield,” primarily aimed at addressing tensions with neighbouring Turkey.
The two NATO members have long-standing disputes over boundaries in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.
On several occasions in the past these disputes have almost resulted in war between the neighbouring countries.
The Greek government also plans to push ahead with the purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets, despite calls by some opposition parties to buy European ones instead.
It comes as European governments look to ramp up defence spending, as fears grow over Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO.
Germany has moved to exempt defence spending from its strict debt rules in an unprecedented move.
The country’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz justified the historic change on the grounds that Europe could no longer rely on US military support.
He warned that Donald Trump’s administration was largely “indifferent” to the fate of Europe, and that Germany must act quickly to bolster its defence capabilities.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” Merz said.