Greece Plans To Buy Israeli Spike Missiles, Including Apache Helicopters And Patrol Boats: Turkey's 'anticipation'?
JAKARTA - Greece is in advanced talks with Israel to buy a missile system for anti-Turkey use, local media reported Monday.
The deal for the Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile manufactured by Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is expected to be signed soon, Greek news outlet Newsport reports.
It is known that 27 systems at a cost of 370 million euros ($374.8 million) will start arriving in the country in early 2023, he said.
The news outlet said the missile systems would be deployed to ground units stationed in the Evros region of northeastern Greece, near the Maritsa (Meriç) River bordering Turkey and on the Aegean islands.
It also mentioned that the AH-64 attack helicopter and Mark V patrol boat recently provided by the United States will be equipped with Spike NLOS missiles, reported Daily Sabah July 19.
Greece has also recently signed several major arms deals with Israel for the purchase of drones, with France for the purchase of the Rafael fighter, as well as with the United States for the upgrade of its F-16 fighter jets to the latest Viper configuration.
Not only that, recently Greece also submitted a letter of interest to the United States to buy at least 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Despite saying it has no intention of entering into an arms race with its neighbor and NATO ally Turkey, Greece continues to pursue an ambitious arms program for its armed forces.
Meanwhile, Turkey has frequently warned Greece against getting involved in an arms race, instead offering to resolve all outstanding issues, including those in the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, through dialogue.
Turkey will not renounce its rights in the Aegean Sea and will not hesitate to use its powers stemming from international agreements, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said last month, while attending the Efes-2022 military exercise held on the Aegean Coast.
Commenting on the resurgence of long-standing tensions between the Aegean Sea neighbors, he said Greece should stop arming the islands with non-military status and abide by international agreements.
"I warn Greece to avoid dreams, actions and statements that will result in regret. Be aware," President Erdogan said in a televised address while observing Turkish military exercises on the west coast of Izmir province.
"Turkey will not renounce its rights in the Aegean Sea and will not back down from exercising the rights established by international treaties when it comes to arming the island," President Erdogan stressed.
Turkey and Greece are at loggerheads over a number of issues, including competing claims to jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean, overlapping claims to their continental shelf, maritime boundaries, air space, energy, the ethnically divided island of Cyprus, the status of islands in the Sea. Aegean and migrants.
Tensions flared again last month, when President Erdogan said Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis 'no longer exists' for him, accusing Mitsotakis of trying to block the sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Turkey during a visit to the United States.