Greece, once Israel’s most vocal European critic, is now set to receive an Israeli-designed air defense system, marking a significant shift in Mediterranean security partnerships.
The agreement, valued at approximately NIS 10 billion (around $2.7 billion), represents one of the largest defense export deals in Israel’s history.
The transformation in relations is remarkable.
Throughout much of the late 20th century, Greece maintained a posture of strong opposition toward Israel. In 1982, Greek vessels were dispatched to Beirut to evacuate Yasser Arafat and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
This historical context adds depth to the significance of the current agreement.
Greece seeks Israeli protection amid growing European divisions
The development is notable because it involves a key European power and NATO ally on the continent’s southeastern flank and a prominent EU member state turning to Israel for its defense needs. This occurs as other European countries, including Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium—and by month’s end, Britain—are seeking to implement boycotts against Israeli products.
These boycotts officially target products from east Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the Golan Heights. However, concerns have been raised that due to the complexity of tracing the origin of Israeli products and components, the measures could potentially lead to broader boycotts of Israeli goods.
The contrast is striking.
While certain segments of Europe seek to distance themselves from Israel, others are seeking its protection. Ireland recently declined to equip a new government aircraft with an Israeli-developed landing assistance system designed for fog conditions. In contrast, Greece is entrusting the security of its population and critical infrastructure to Israeli technology.
Beyond highlighting these divergent European approaches, where political opposition and strategic reliance on Israel operate in opposing directions, the deal also underscores Israel’s formidable capabilities in the defense sector.
Greece turns to Israel’s multilayered defense system
Greece is seeking the same comprehensive multilayered air defense architecture that safeguards Israel, having witnessed its effectiveness over recent years in countering missiles, rockets, and drones launched from Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, and additional threat vectors. Observing its performance, Greece now seeks comparable protection.
Under the accord, designated as Achilles Shield, Israel will furnish Greece with an integrated national air defense network. This will include David’s Sling for intercepting ballistic missiles and heavy rockets; SPYDER and BARAK MX systems to protect strategic installations against diverse threats from drones to cruise missiles; advanced MMR radars; Drone Dome counter-unmanned aerial vehicle systems; and a national command-and-control network integrating all components.
This extends beyond a conventional arms transaction—it represents the transfer of an entire defensive framework developed under operational conditions, validated through conflict, and refined through successive engagements employing a broad spectrum of weaponry.
Other European nations, increasingly concerned by the expanding Russian threat and the growing capabilities of Iranian missile technology, are expected to pursue similar arrangements. Governments prioritize effective solutions, particularly when civilian protection is at stake. Finland, for instance, quietly extended its defense cooperation framework with Israel for an additional decade, ensuring continued deployment of its recently acquired David’s Sling system despite significant domestic political opposition.
Israeli-Greek alliance gains significance amid Turkish ambitions
The Turkish dimension warrants attention.
As Turkey increasingly projects power throughout the region—from extending its reach in Syria to establishing military partnerships with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—this agreement further solidifies an Israeli-Greek alliance that, while not formally directed against any specific adversary, clearly offers mutual strategic benefits.
Historical irony pervades this development.
When Greece emerged as a vocal critic of Israel during the 1970s—Athens did not formally recognize Israel until 1990—one contributing factor was Turkey. Following Turkey’s invasion and subsequent occupation of northern Cyprus in 1974, Greece sought to balance Ankara’s influence by cultivating relationships with Arab states. This required, among other diplomatic efforts, securing Arab support at the United Nations for anti-Turkish resolutions.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Athens viewed the Arab world as a diplomatic counterweight to Turkey and, in reciprocity, advocated strongly for the Palestine Liberation Organization. Today, those geopolitical calculations have become obsolete. Greece’s current requirements are not for the diplomatic shield against Turkey that Arab nations once provided, but for the tangible security capabilities that Israel can now deliver.
This transformation illustrates the magnitude of the shift: Greece, previously unwavering in its opposition to Israel, now relies on the Jewish state for its defense.
