London, UK – Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias reiterated Greece’s opposition to the potential sale of Meteor air-to-air missiles to Turkey during a meeting with British Defense Secretary John Healey in London on Tuesday, according to Greek media reports.
Dendias voiced concerns that supplying Turkey with the advanced missiles could disrupt the regional balance of power, further intensifying tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey’s Eurofighter Negotiations and Greece’s Objections
Turkey has been negotiating the purchase of up to 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, seeking to equip them with Meteor missiles as part of its air force modernization efforts. The Meteor, developed by the European defense consortium MBDA—which includes Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden—is widely regarded as one of the most advanced beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles available.
Greece has strongly opposed the deal, arguing that it violates a 2021 Franco-Greek defense pact, which mandates security consultations between Athens and Paris on defense matters.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis previously raised concerns about the sale with French President Emmanuel Macron in an effort to block the transaction. However, Macron indicated that preventing the sale would be difficult due to the missile’s multinational production structure.
Greece Seeks to Strengthen Its Defense Capabilities
In response to Turkey’s defense acquisitions, Greece is exploring ways to enhance its military capabilities. Athens is in talks with Israel to develop a €2 billion air defense system modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome, aiming to bolster its air defenses amid ongoing regional tensions.
Persistent Tensions Between Greece and Turkey
Despite a recent thaw in relations between the NATO allies, Greece and Turkey remain at odds over several contentious issues, including maritime boundaries, energy resources, and airspace disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.
