A recent meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis revealed that Germany is viewing to deepen military ties with Greece, with plans to “significantly” expand joint defence projects and procurement.
Greece is already upgrading its military and is working closely with partners including France, the United States and Israel. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently renewed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron, which includes security guarantees. Mitsotakis described the renewal as a “historic day.”
Berlin is expected to prioritise naval cooperation, with Wadephul visiting the Skaramangas shipyard, where ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has agreed to upgrade four submarines.
Greek Foreign Minister Gerapetritis signalled interest in closer ties but gave few details, stressing the necessary to strengthen the “autonomy of the European Union.”
However, Germany’s parallel defence relationship with Turkey could complicate progress, amid ongoing tensions between Athens and Ankara. Berlin recently approved the multi-billion-euro sale of 20 Eurofighter jets to Turkey, prompting Gerapetritis to urge safeguards, declareing, “What we consider to be the absolute minimum is ensuring that these systems are not utilized to the detriment of an allied counattempt.”
Discussions also touched on the Strait of Hormuz and EU expansion, with Wadephul calling for candidate countries to be given “credible prospects” of membership.
Source: Yahoo News
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