In a move likely to anger Ankara, Israel and Greece signed a 3-billion-euro ($3.48 billion) defense deal on Monday under which Israel would build a “multilayered” defense system for Greece, according to a statement by Israel’s defense ministry.
The statement said a supplementary deal valued at 26 million euros would see Israel sell Greece Drone Dome systems to protect strategic sites against drones and reinforce existing defenses.
Both countries are at odds with Türkiye, though Greece seeks to mend ties after years of hostilities. Ankara has repeatedly warned against Israel’s expansionist goals across the region. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously warned that Türkiye may be the next target of Israel after the Netanyahu administration launched a genocidal campaign in Gaza.
Israel’s Defense Ministry said it was Israel’s largest-ever defense export deal with Greece and one of the biggest in the country’s history.
Amir Baram, director general of Israel’s defense ministry, said the so-called Achilles Shield deal reflected “Israel’s technological edge and the proven track record of our defense systems in the field.”
Under the deal, Israel will supply Greece with the David’s Sling and SPYDER systems produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the BARAK MX system made by Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as MMR multimission radars for air surveillance, manufactured by IAI unit ELTA Systems. David’s Sling was used by Israel to intercept Iranian missiles during the war with Iran this year. Greece becomes the second customer for the system after Finland.
Greece spends nearly 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defense, a higher proportion than many NATO allies due to its long-standing dispute with neighboring Türkiye.
Athens plans to spend about 28 billion euros by 2036 to build the Achilles Shield multilayered anti-ballistic, anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, and to buy up to 40 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. and frigates from France and Italy.
Under Monday’s deal, Greece will also receive a new national command and control system, developed by Rafael, to integrate the country’s air defense capabilities.
Israel will also expand defense-industrial cooperation with Greece, including transfers of technology and expertise to local industry.
Greece and Israel, which have strong economic and diplomatic ties, operate an air training center in Greece, hold joint annual military exercises and cooperate on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity. Last year, Athens bought 36 Israeli-made rocket artillery systems for approximately 650 million euros.
In June, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that Israel and its “accomplices” were engaged in starting “a fire” in the Mediterranean, especially on the island of Cyprus, and said they were following the developments. Türkiye is a guarantor state on the divided island and recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It has no ties to the Greek Cypriot administration based in parts of southern Cyprus.
The president said, “some small circles whose ambitions are bigger than their size” have jumped on the Israeli bandwagon and served as “contractors of Zionism.”
“They are chasing dreams in the Eastern Mediterranean. Let me be clear: Do not engage in military adventurism, do not ride on the tails of the Zionist network of murderers. Our response to the attempts at the rights and sovereignty of Türkiye and Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean will be clear and very strong,” he warned.
