Greece deepens Israel defence ties with €3bn shield

Greece has deepened defence ties with Israel by buying the Achilles Shield air defence system in a three-billion-euro ($3.5 billion) deal, while Athens tries to preserve its relations with other Middle Eastern countries.

The contract, negotiated for more than three years, was signed in Tel Aviv on September 1. The multilayered system is designed to protect against drones, aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the contract “one of the most important in the country's history”. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the system was “the best available, given the resources at our disposal” and praised Greece's “strategic relationship with Israel”.

The deal follows a rapprochement between Greece and Israel that began in 2010 in defence, energy and security. Greece has also launched an armed forces modernisation programme worth more than 25 billion euros, renewed a strategic defence partnership with France and is set to buy two Italian frigates.

Athens is also trying to maintain its traditional ties with Arab states. Mitsotakis has recently visited Jordan, pledged help to Lebanon and is due to visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

George Tzogopoulos, an international relations analyst at the International Center for European Training, said the Greece-Israel relationship was “not an alliance against Turkey”, despite both countries' strained relations with Ankara.

The arms deal has drawn criticism from left-wing parties. Syriza accused the Greek government of deepening defence dependence on Israel's government despite international criticism over Gaza. Israel's war in Gaza has prompted frequent demonstrations in Greece since 2023, including protests during Israeli cruise ship stops.