Greece increases defence expenditure by 57% amid tension with Turkey -

Athens/Ankara: Greece has increased its defence expenditure budget by a whopping 57% to stop the aggressive Turkish activities in the Mediterranean Sea. The Greek parliament approved this increase on Tuesday, and Greece will be spending USD 6.6 billion on the defence forces in 2021. This envisages the increase in the number of defence personnel, purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France and also the purchase of drones, destroyers and other defence equipment.

Turkey has adopted an aggressive stand regarding the oil reserves in the Mediterranean Sea and has claimed rights over the oil reserves even in the Greek marine region. To strengthen the claim further, Turkey signed an agreement with Libya last year. Following that, in the previous three months, Turkey consistently sent its ships for oil exploration to the region, trying to incite Greece. Greece also has strongly retaliated against the Turkish actions, and along with the European countries, even the United States, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have stood by Greece.

The international support that Greece is receiving and the pressures from the United States and European countries have forced Turkey to retreat on the issue. But to retaliate against the Turkish activities and inciting stance, Greece has decided to increase its level of defence preparedness. Three months ago, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a comprehensive program to increase the defence preparedness of the Greek defence forces. The massive increase of 57% in the defence expenditure is said to be the step taken for implementation of the program.

In 2021, Greece will be spending USD 6.6 billion on the defence forces, and this amount is said to be nearly 3% of the country’s GDP. The most important provision of the defence budget is the agreement to be signed with France for purchase of 18 Rafale fighter jets. Prime Minister Mitsotakis informed that the deal would be signed in the next few days and eight of these fighter jets will join the Greek air force in 2021. The processes for the purchase of destroyers, naval helicopters, anti-tank weapons, navy torpedoes and advanced air missiles will also be initiated.

Greece has also started moves to purchase the super-advanced F-35 fighter jets from the United States over and above the French fighter jets. Although the number of jets has not been decided yet, it is being said that the talks will be for the purchase of between six and eight jets.