Greece Locks in €700M EU Defense Deal
The European Commission confirmed today that Greece has signed a 700 million euro agreement under the EU's SAFE program, securing funds for defense upgrades across the Mediterranean. The confirmation came from European Commission Defense spokesman Thomas Renier, speaking from Brussels on Tuesday.
SAFE, which stands for Security Action for Europe, is the EU's new mechanism designed to accelerate defense investments, boost European defense industry production capacity, and promote joint procurement among member states. Greece's allocation will specifically go toward strategic surveillance, secure communications, and counter-drone technologies, according to EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, who first announced the deal on X last Saturday, June 13.
France is expected to commit 15.1 billion euros, ranking among the biggest single agreements under the program so far.
Greece joins a growing list of member states that have already signed SAFE agreements, including Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania, Belgium, and Cyprus. France is expected to add its signature on Wednesday, committing a far larger sum of 15.1 billion euros, which would rank among the biggest single agreements under the program so far.
Renier said the process is moving quickly, with more signings anticipated in the weeks ahead. The EU has been pushing member states to ramp up defense spending and reduce dependence on non-European suppliers, a priority that has only accelerated given the security situation on the continent.
For Greece, the 700 million euros represent additional resources on top of existing national defense budgets, available through European-level cooperation frameworks. The country's position in the Eastern Mediterranean makes the surveillance and counter-drone components particularly relevant given ongoing tensions in the region.
