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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Saturday a “major” arms purchase program and a reorganization of the country’s armed forces, as tensions with Turkey rise in the eastern Mediterranean, France Presse was quoted as saying by Agerpres. .
Mitsotakis said Greece would buy 18 French-made Rafale fighter jets, as well as frigates and helicopters, recruit an additional 15,000 soldiers and fund its defense industry more substantially.
“The time has come to strengthen our armed forces. This is an important program that will form a national shield,” the prime minister said in a speech in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. He added that the program would create thousands of jobs.
Turkey and Greece, both members of NATO, compete for oil fields in the eastern Mediterranean, in an area that Athens considers to be under its sovereignty.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis on Saturday accused Turkey of “threatening” Europe’s eastern borders and “endangering” regional security.
Tensions between the two countries escalated when Turkey sent a seismic survey ship on August 10, accompanied by warships in waters claimed by Greece, prompting Athens to launch naval maneuvers.
Web Editor: Liviu Cojan
