Analysts say Greece is concerned about threats posed by the US-Israel war on Iran and Turkiye's growing capabilities.

Greece has inked a weapons deal with Israel that will see a $3.5bn multi-layered air defence system delivered to Athens in what is the largest defence agreement ever between the two countries.

The agreement, signed on Monday in Tel Aviv, comes as Greece’s relations with its neighbour and rival, Turkiye, have grown more sour. It also, however, breaks with a broader European wariness of being seen as too close to Israel, following the genocidal war on Gaza and Israel’s increasingly blatant efforts to annex the occupied West Bank.

Turkiye has not yet reacted to the new defence deal. The growing military relationship between Greece, Israel and Cyprus – with which Turkiye also has territorial tensions – has previously drawn negative reactions from Ankara.

“We’re already hearing some Turkish analysts talking to Turkish media about how Greece’s weapons procurement deal from Israel makes Greece effectively co-responsible for everything that Israel does in the occupied West Bank and Gaza,” Al Jazeera’s John Psaropoulos said from Athens.

  • hatingfedizen@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    6·
    3 days ago

    Once again an European liberal-conservative making deals with their zionist master. Also, great investment, $3.5B in air defense systems that are defeated by a bunch of cheap drones.

  • Souvenir@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    3·
    3 days ago

    Greece and Turkey are historic enemies and the latter’s relationship with Israel has worsened, there’s gas and pipelines to think about, the whole Cyprus thing, Israel has expertise on anti-drone technology at a time Russia is an increased threat, etc. etc.

    It makes perfect strategic sense, even if the Greek public are increasingly critical of Israel.

    TLDR: Realpolitik. Amoral, unethical, but rational and pragmatic.

    • 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Isn’t Ukraine the current gold standard for drone related offense and defense? And buying Ukrainian technology would also help Ukraine defend themselves better against Russia’s imperialism.

      Picking Israel makes their intentions quite clear that they are fine with the genocide and have no problems funding it further by doing business with them.

      tldr; Greece is okay with funding genocide.

      • Souvenir@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        1·
        2 days ago

        Although Greece has closer ties with Ukraine, due to the whole Orthodox thing, Ukraine has less missiles to spare. Especially not in the time frame the Israelis are offering. I googled, should be operational within 3 years.

        Israel also has plenty of experience fending off the kind of drones the Russians use too, like the Shahed.

        In any case, from what I’m reading the Greeks are buying a fully layered Air Defense system, part of the money they’re going to spend will flow back to Greek manufacturers, Cyrpiot manufacturers may also become a production location, and they’re also getting access to the source code, etc. etc. The whole thing will also integrate with their own systems and allow them to develop related industries in Greece and Cyprus.

        Alternative is for example buying from the US, but they’re not exactly reliable, and if you ever get what you ordered, you’ll end up paying too much for something that arrived a decade too late.

        As the likelihood of war increases, I’m afraid you’ll see more of this kind of thing in the coming years. Israel does have good products to sell, if you’re willing to look the other way.

        Necessitas non habet legem - Necessity has no law.

        TLDR: Yup. Realpolitik.