With Turkey and Iran looming large in the region (and expanding their influence), a paramount deal has been struck between Israel and Greece. The two countries “have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal, which Israel said would strengthen political and economic ties between the countries.”
Greece and Turkey have been embroiled in ongoing disputes. Tensions — from gas exploration to territorial battles and migrant disputes — brought the countries to the brink of “open conflict” last year. At the core is Turkey’s policy of Islamic expansionism and its Islamic supremacist bulling.
As part of the new Israel-Greece agreement, which strengthens Greece in the face of Turkish aggression, the Greek Defense Ministry and Elbit Systems will lead to “the establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force.”
The first military deal between the Israel and Greece was concluded last year, when Israel leased drones to Greece to help it defend its borders.
“Israel and Greece sign record defence deal,” Al Jazeera, April 18, 2021:
Israel and Greece have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal, which Israel said would strengthen political and economic ties between the countries as the two countries’ air forces launched a joint exercise.
The agreement includes a $1.65bn contract for the establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force by Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems over a 22-year period, Israel’s defence ministry said on Sunday.
The training centre will be modelled on Israel’s own flight academy and will be equipped with 10 M-346 training aircraft produced by Italy’s Leonardo, the ministry said.
Elbit will supply kits to upgrade and operate Greece’s T-6 aircraft and also provide training, simulators and logistical support.
“I am certain that (this programme) will upgrade the capabilities and strengthen the economies of Israel and Greece and thus the partnership between our two countries will deepen on the defence, economic and political levels,” said Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz.
The announcement follows a meeting in Cyprus on Friday between the United Arab Emirates, Greek, Cypriot and Israeli foreign ministers, who agreed to deepen cooperation.
The Israeli and Greek air forces on Sunday launched a joint exercise in Greece, the Israeli military said.
In at least one past exercise over Greece, Israeli fighter planes practised against an S-300 posted on Crete. The Russian-made air defence system is also deployed in Syria and Iran, Israel’s foes.
A source in the Hellenic National Defence Command said the S-300 had not been activated in the joint exercise that began on Sunday.
Israel, Greece and Cyprus have taken several steps in recent months to cement ties, including advancing plans to build a 2,000-megawatt undersea electricity cable and a 1,900km (1,300-mile) undersea gas pipeline, a move that irked regional rival Turkey.
Last month, the Israeli military said it conducted a joint naval exercise with Greece and Cyprus…..
mortimer says
Israel should be a member of NATO, in place of Turkey.
BlackSabbath says
Israel should replace Turkey in NATO.
James Lincoln says
Agreed, mortimer…
Infidel says
Actually no! For the local environment, Israel should look to countries that take their defense seriously, and Greece is one of the few. Armenia is another. Also, Israel should recognize that the traditional definition of ‘Middle East’ is dated, and today also includes Pakistan and Afghanistan. And in that spirit, they should tie up w/ India, and have a military alliance w/ the Quad, even if they’re not likely to be a part of it since they are nowhere near China
Europe has pretty much moved largely to the dark side
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
Thank you for your reply – food for thought…
Billy Corr says
Sadly, Israel’s chum is Azerbaijan, not Armenia. Worse, Armenia has startly good relations with Iran.
It’s a harsh world out there!
Infidel says
Billy, sooner or later, Azerbaijan would have to choose b/w Turkey and Israel. Wanna hazard a guess on who they’d pick? Similarly, Iran and Turkey are so far not at odds, since aside from Israel, they have a common enemy – the Arabs. So Armenia could find itself prone to betrayal again, since they have nothing that Iran needs, should Iran decide that it’s in its interests to cozy up to Turkey
gravenimage says
Mortimer, you are right.
john smith says
Damn good idea mortimer, that’s exactly how it should be.Turkey is without doubt our enemy, and if Israel was part of NATO, Erdogan would think twice before he attacked Israel, because that’s what he’s planning.
Mauricio says
Seems like good news.
I like how both flags are similar.
https://orthodoxtimes.com/us-strongly-supports-greek-presidency-of-international-holocaust-remembrance-alliance/
Infidel says
This sort of an agreement is 50 years overdue. Greece should never have sided w/ Arabs against Israel. Anyway, it’s good that Greece and Israel are mending fences. Israel should also apologize to Armenia for its support of Azerbaijan, and offer Yerevan support as well. There needs to be a consolidation of non-Muslim countries in the region: add in countries like Cyprus, Bulgaria, and if possible, even Georgia (unless they consider Russia a bigger threat than Turkey)
gravenimage says
+1
GreekEmpress says
I’m glad this agreement was reached.
Maybe it will throw a little cold water on Erdogan’s ambitions.
gravenimage says
Yes–I hope so.
gravenimage says
Israel and Greece sign record defense deal amid threats from Turkey and Iran
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Excellent! So glad to see this.
Singh T. Junior says
I will pray that one day India under PM Modi signs a mutual defense agreement with Israel and Greece. God bless all people of Israel and Greece.
Infidel says
Yeah, that would make more sense than the defense deal they signed w/ Saudi Arabia, which just proved that it would tighten the screws on oil prices the moment the supply-demand equation turned to their advantage, thanks to Biden’s screw-ups on Keystone, fracking and ANWR. Also, is India prepared to start creating all-muslim regiments that can fight KSA’s battles in places like Yemen?
Singh T. Junior says
I don’t think Indian forces are organized that way. Furthermore, loyalty of islamists is always questionable, but that is not just in India. The best soldiers would be Hindus, Sikhs, and Nepalese to support military operations in remote places.
Singh T. Junior says
By Nepalese, I meant Gurkhas. Not actual citizens of Nepal, since that is a different country.
Giacomo Latta says
Well, when your friends NATO and (cough) US Democrats abandon you …
Mauricio says
Aha!
JimJFox says
“The agreement includes a $1.65bn contract for the establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force by Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems over a 22-year period”
22 YEARS ??!!