Athens, November 21 – Greece is solidifying its list of defense programs for which it will seek funding through the European Union’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) regulation, according to Kathimerini. The finalized list underscores Athens’ strategic defense priorities, aiming to bolster its military capabilities with modern technology and equipment.
Greece’s Strategic Defense Priorities for SAFE Funding
According to informed sources, Athens’ top priorities for SAFE funding include the procurement of various types of unmanned systems (drones), cyber warfare systems, and ground-to-ground anti-tank missiles for the Hellenic Army. These acquisitions reflect a focus on enhancing reconnaissance, offensive, and defensive capabilities in contemporary warfare scenarios.
In addition to these critical systems, efforts will be made to include the equipment for the Modern Warrior program and the acquisition of new general-purpose vehicles. These new vehicles are intended to replace the existing aging fleet, ensuring operational readiness and efficiency for the Greek armed forces. The modernization of the armed forces through such procurements is crucial for maintaining national security and interoperability with European allies.
What is SAFE?
SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is the new European defense fund designed to provide loans totaling up to €150 billion to European Union member states for defense investments. The European Commission will raise these funds from capital markets, leveraging the EU’s high credit rating, and will then make them available to member states under favorable financing terms. This initiative aims to address urgent defense investment needs across the bloc.
It is important to note that SAFE is not a permanent mechanism but rather an “extraordinary and temporary response” to the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities. The loans are scheduled to be disbursed until 2030 and will be repaid over a period of 45 years. This temporary nature highlights the immediate strategic importance placed on enhancing European defense in the current geopolitical climate.
The program is part of the broader ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030, a comprehensive strategy aimed at increasing defense spending and fostering greater cooperation among member states. This strategy seeks to prevent the fragmentation and waste of resources that have historically characterized the European defense market, promoting a more unified and efficient approach to defense procurement and development.
The primary objective of SAFE loans is to enable member states to make urgent defense investments while simultaneously improving the efficiency of expenditures and enhancing interoperability among European defense systems. The European Commission will evaluate member states’ loan applications based on criteria of cooperation and effectiveness, with the final approval granted by the Council of the EU. SAFE loans will be available exclusively to EU member states, reinforcing the internal focus of this defense initiative.
Greece Opposes Turkey’s Participation in SAFE
Turkey has expressed interest in participating in the SAFE program, despite not being a member state of the European Union. This creates significant political and institutional obstacles, as participation would require a political agreement with the EU, given that SAFE is exclusively for member states.
Greece, for its part, has made it unequivocally clear that it will not consent to any form of Turkish participation in the program unless Ankara lifts the casus belli, the threat of war against Greece, which has been in place since 1995. This firm stance underscores the deep-seated tensions between the two countries and Greece’s commitment to protecting its national interests within the framework of European defense cooperation.
As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently emphasized at the UN, Turkey must lift the casus belli, with Athens warning that it will block Turkey’s participation in the European SAFE defense program. “States that threaten EU members with war have no place in such a program,” the Prime Minister stated emphatically in mid-September, adding that as long as the casus belli is not withdrawn, Greece will exercise its veto power.
Turkey, on the other hand, argues that it is “a country that makes a critical contribution to Europe’s security, and in this context, it is important to be included in Europe’s defense and security mechanisms, especially the SAFE mechanism.” This highlights Turkey’s desire for closer integration into European defense structures, despite the ongoing political disputes with Greece.
Greece is expected to receive loans amounting to €788 million through the SAFE program, which will significantly contribute to its defense modernization efforts. The country’s proactive approach to securing these funds and its firm stance on regional security issues demonstrate its commitment to a robust and integrated European defense.
