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.
Greece, which emerged from its third international bailout in 2018 and has been struggling with the economic impact of the novel coronavirus, wants to spend part of its multi-billion-euro cash reserves on its defense sector.
“The Turkish leadership is unleashing, on a near daily basis, threats of war and makes provocative statements against Greece,” Greek government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said.
“We respond with political, diplomatic and operational readiness, determined to do whatever is necessary to protect our sovereign rights.”
Petsas said Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, would be announcing details of plans to upgrade the country’s military during his annual state of the economy speech on Saturday.
“We are in contact with friendly countries in order to reinforce the equipment of our armed forces,” Petsas said.
Last week, Greece raised 2.5 billion euros ($4 billion) in a bond auction as the country seeks to increase military spending and raise funds for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Greek media has reported the purchases may include French-made Rafale fighter jets and at least one French frigate.
Petsas said Mitsotakis would be meeting with French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting in Corsica of European Union Mediterranean countries.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the European Union’s strained relationship with Turkey, Macron’s office said.
Turkey and Greece have long disagreed over the extent of their continental shelves. Tensions rose last month after Ankara sent an exploration vessel into disputed waters, accompanied by warships, days after Greece signed a maritime deal with Egypt.
Ankara has since been extending the vessel’s work in the wider region, issuing advisories which Athens calls illegal.
READ MORE: Turkey issues third NAVTEX for illegal survey activities in East Med.
