Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Saturday a "major" program of arms purchases and a reorganization of the country's armed forces, as tension mounts with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would procure 18 French-made Rafale fighter jets as well as four naval frigates and four helicopters, recruit 15,000 additional soldiers and further fund its defense industry.
The program also includes the renovation of four frigates, and the acquisition of anti-tank weapons, torpedoes and missiles, he added.
"
The time has come to strengthen our armed forces (...) This is an important program which will form a national shield
", declared the Prime Minister in a speech in Thessaloniki, in the north of Greece.
He assured that this program should allow the creation of thousands of jobs.
"
This announcement reinforces the exceptional relationship we have had with Greece for almost half a century, and I thank the Greek authorities for the confidence they have placed in us once again
"
,
declared Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO by Dassault * Aviation.
“
Dassault Aviation is fully mobilized to meet the operational needs expressed by the Greek Air Force, and thus help ensure the sovereignty of Greece and the security of the Greek people.
"
Turkey and Greece, both members of NATO, are tearing up over oil fields in the eastern Mediterranean, in an area that Athens considers to be under its sovereignty.
Tensions between the two countries escalated when Turkey on August 10 sent a seismic survey vessel accompanied by warships into waters claimed by Greece, prompting Athens to launch naval maneuvers , with the support of France in particular.
* The Dassault group owns the Figaro.