The European Union must strengthen its role in the defence and arms industry and improve cooperation with NATO.
This was stated by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a meeting with the Secretary General of the military alliance, Mark Rutte, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU is seeking to increase its defence capacity, and the European Commission has promised to boost flagship projects in the field of air and cyber defence.
"We have reached agreement on one of the main priorities for all allies - the need to strengthen our common defence, a goal that requires a strong defence industry, significant investments... and more effective cooperation between the EU and NATO," Mitsotakis said after the meeting in Athens.
Greece spends about 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually on defense.
Despite an increase in spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU’s total defense spending of about 326 billion euros in 2024 represents only 1.9% of its GDP, according to the European Defense Agency.
Greece has presented proposals that would give member states more fiscal space to invest in defense projects.
Athens wants to reform its military and revamp its defense industry as it recovers from a decade-long debt crisis that has forced it to cut spending. It is also in talks with Israel to develop a 2 billion euro air and missile defense system.
Mitsotakis said support for Ukraine should continue, and Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, praised Greece for helping to speed up the training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians for F-16 fighter jets.
“We also need to strengthen our deterrence and defense, including by increasing investment and production in the sector. The good news is that with NATO we have the alliance we need to protect every inch of our territory,” Rutte said. | BGNES
