Greece made headlines on Monday when it signed a new arms deal with France, involving the purchase of 16 Exocet anti-ship missiles.
The weapons add to Greece’s existing military collection, which includes Rafale jets and French-made frigates.
However, this move is not just a routine military purchase but carries a clear message amid prolonged tensions with Turkey.
Are they preparing to send missiles to Turkey?
Greece and Turkey, although both NATO members, have long clashed over maritime borders in the Aegean Sea and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Issues such as overlapping airspace, oil and gas drilling rights, and the status of small islands near the two countries have often been sources of tension.
Turkey also accused Greece of ‘heating up the situation’ by arming islands that are supposed to remain demilitarized under international agreements.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has insisted that Greece “does not threaten, but is threatened,” as the country invests heavily in military technology such as AI and drones.
With a €25 billion budget until 2034, Greece is not just strengthening its defenses but may be sending a signal to the world to open up a modern, high-tech battlefield.
The world is watching – is it just routine NATO cooperation, or is there a crisis brewing in the Aegean Sea?
