Greece ramps up defence spending and joins elite F‑35 programme

Greece’s defence budget now accounts for about 3 % of its GDP, placing it above Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy and near the NATO‑set target of 5 % for 2035. The government highlighted the acquisition of 20 F‑35 aircraft, with an option for another 20, and the delivery of more than 50 F‑16 Vipers, signalling a major boost in air power.

Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakēs defended the policy, saying Greece has moved from being outside key U.S. defence programmes in 2019 to actively participating in them, and stressed that the country’s security posture is judged by results rather than optics. He also criticised opposition narratives on the country’s handling of relations with Turkey.

The F‑35 expansion reinforces Greece’s role in NATO’s elite fighter club and is seen as a strategic advantage in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, underscoring the nation’s commitment to collective security and deterrence.