Mitsotakis said Greece would acquire 18 French-made Rafale fighters, as well as frigates and helicopters, recruit 15,000 additional soldiers and further finance the defense industry.
“The time has come to strengthen our armed forces. This is an important program that will form a national shield ”, said the prime minister in a speech in Thessaloniki, adding that this program should allow the creation of thousands of jobs.
Turkey and Greece, both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are fighting to prospect for oil and gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, an area that Athens considers to be under its sovereignty.
Mitsotakis today accused Turkey of “threatening” Europe’s eastern borders and “jeopardizing” regional security.
Tensions between the two countries increased when Turkey, on August 10, sent a seismic survey vessel accompanied by warships in waters claimed by Greece, prompting Athens to launch naval maneuvers.
France has been one of the strongest countries in responding to Turkish prospecting, looking for gas deposits, having even sent, during the summer, ships and warplanes to the area, to underline its support for Greeks and Cypriots.
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