Israel and Greece Seal Landmark $3.4 Billion Defence Accord Amid Regional Tensions

Israel and Greece signed a major defence agreement valued at over $3.4 billion on Monday, providing Athens with a comprehensive "multilayered defence array" utilizing advanced Israeli systems.

Known as the "Achilles Shield" accord, the agreement represents one of the largest defence export contracts in Israel's history and marks its first time supplying another nation with a complete defence infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Defence. An additional agreement involves Israel supplying Greece with anti-drone technology.

The pact arrives amid escalating friction between Israel and Turkey, alongside long-standing tensions between Greece and Turkey as Athens pursues the modernization of its military capabilities.

Achilles Shield incorporates several Israeli systems, including David’s Sling and Spyder from Rafael, Barak MK from Israel Aerospace Industries, and a novel national command and control system created by Rafael. Both nations additionally committed to broadening their industrial defence partnership.

Greece currently allocates roughly 3.5 per cent of its gross domestic product toward defence, surpassing the spending levels of most Nato members.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the contract as evidence of the profound strategic alliance between Israel and Greece. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office addressed recent regional military activities involving Syria and Turkey.