ATHENS: Greece plans to acquire arms, boost its armed forces and revamp its defence industry, the government’s spokesman said on Monday, as tensions with NATO ally Turkey over energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean grow.
“We are in talks with allies to boost our armed forces,” government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters, adding Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will outline his plans during an annual economic policy speech on Saturday.
A Greek government official said Greece is in talks with France and other countries over the acquisition of fighter jets. Greece has also been trying for more than a decade to consolidate and privatise its loss-making defence companies.
Macron meeting
Mitsotakis will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Corsica on Thursday, before a Southern European leaders summit (MED7). The two leaders are expected to discuss the EU’s strained relationship with Turkey, Macron’s office said.
Petas said that cooperation in the defence sector between the two countries will also be on the agenda.