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Reuters
The Greek prime minister accused Turkey of undermining regional security.
Greece has announced plans to boost its military capabilities, including purchasing fighters from France and recruiting an additional 15,000 soldiers.
The announcement comes amid tension in the eastern Mediterranean region between Greece and Turkey over the rights to explore for oil and gas.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Athens would buy 18 Rafale fighters from France, four multi-role frigates and four naval helicopters, and would also invest resources in the national arms and cyber defense industry.
He added that new anti-tank weapons, naval torpedoes and missiles would be secured for the Air Force.
He explained that the program, which includes the modernization of four other existing frigates, is also designed to generate thousands of jobs.
“The time has come to strengthen the armed forces … These initiatives constitute a strong program that will become a national shield for the country,” he said in a speech in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
He added that Turkey “threatens” the borders of Eastern Europe and “undermines” regional security.
A government source told the media that more details about the cost of the program will be released Sunday at a press conference.
Mitsotakis is believed to have crafted the program after speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron during a summit of Southern European leaders in Corsica this week.
And unlike other allies of the European Union and NATO, France has strongly supported Greece in its escalating confrontation with Turkey.
Macron asked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not to cross the “red lines” and sent warships and fighter jets to the region.
The Turkish president had previously warned Macron not to “poke fun at” Ankara.
And last August, Turkey sent an exploration ship and a small naval fleet to carry out reconnaissance in waters that Greece considers its own according to post-war treaties.
But Greece responded by conducting naval exercises with various allies from the European Union and the United Arab Emirates in a show of force on their part.
