 "Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, front left, and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu, front right, inspect the guard of honour before their meeting in Athens, Greece, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo)")
Greece signed an agreement Monday with France to purchase 16 Exocet anti-ship missiles from France as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its defenses amid heightened tensions with neighbouring Turkey.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu who was in Athens for a one-day visit, finalised the deal. However, the cost of the agreement was not disclosed.
This missile acquisition adds to Greece’s growing military relationship with France, which has already seen Greece purchasing two dozen Rafale fighter jets and three Belharra-class frigates. Dendias also mentioned ongoing discussions for a fourth frigate, while France supplies Greece with NH-90 military helicopters. The two countries are also cooperating on defense innovations.
Despite both being NATO members, Greece and Turkey have a long history of disputes over territorial boundaries in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean, which have nearly led to conflict multiple times in recent decades.
“Greece does not threaten, but is threatened,” Dendias said in joint statements to the press with Lecornu. The two ministers did not take questions.
After their meeting, Lecornu and Dendias visited the French frigate Alsace, which is currently docked in Greece’s main port of Piraeus. Lecornu also met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greece and France signed a defense and security cooperation deal in 2021, which includes a mutual defense clause under which each would come to the other’s aid in the event of an attack.
Impact Shorts
View AllAthens has said it will spend 25 billion euros ($27 billion) over the next decade to adapt its military to evolving high-tech warfare technologies.
Speaking in Parliament earlier this month, Dendias said Greece plans to shift from traditional defense systems to a high-tech, networked strategy centered on mobile, Artificial Intelligence-powered missile systems, drone technologies, and advanced command units — reducing reliance on conventional fleets.
Greece’s modernisation drive — launched after years of defense cuts during the 2010–2018 financial crisis — already includes all branches of the armed forces and focuses on cooperation with France, Israel, and the United States.
With inputs from agencies