Athens, Greece. Greece will cooperate with Israel on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said after meeting his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz in Athens. The two ministers discussed joint efforts to address drone and cyber threats.
Anti-drone and cybersecurity cooperation
Dendias said the two sides agreed to exchange views and know-how to deal with drones, including swarms of unmanned vehicles and groups of unmanned subsea vehicles. He added that Greece and Israel would also work together to be ready to intercept cyber threats.
Existing defence ties and joint activities
Greece and Israel have strong economic and diplomatic ties and operate an air training centre on Greek territory. The two countries have also held joint military drills in recent years.
Procurement and defence system talks
Greece last year approved the purchase of 36 Israeli-made PULS rocket artillery systems for about 650 million euros ($762.52 million). It has also been in talks with Israel to develop an anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic multi-layer air and drone defence system, estimated to cost about 3 billion euros.
Regional security remarks
Katz said Greece and Israel were determined not to allow actors seeking to undermine regional stability to gain a foothold through terror, aggression or military proxies in Syria, in Gaza, and in the Aegean Sea. Dendias and Katz did not say who would pose drone, cyber or other threats to their countries, but Greece and Israel both see Turkey as a significant regional security concern.
What do you think this cooperation could mean for regional security in the eastern Mediterranean?