Greece and Israel Sign Largest Arms Deal

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that Israel and Greece have signed their largest defense deal to date. According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel and Greece finalized the biggest defense procurement agreement, with the Greek Air Force signing a contract for the Israeli company "Elbit Systems" to operate a training center for the Greek Air Force. The value of the agreement is approximately $1.65 billion. "Elbit" stated that it will provide new "M-346" training aircraft and will maintain the full training fleet of the Greek Air Force, which includes dozens of "M-346" and "T-6" aircraft, for nearly 20 years, according to Reuters. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias remarked during a joint statement with his Cypriot and Israeli counterparts, Nikos Christodoulides and Gabi Ashkenazi, that Greek-Cypriot-Israeli relations guarantee security in the region. Dendias noted on Tuesday, after the meeting of the three foreign ministers in Athens, that Greece, Cyprus, and Israel are creating a "new geography of understanding." He added, "Unfortunately, our meeting takes place under the pressure of new illegal actions by Turkey." Dendias said, "In a few days, Turkey is once again attempting through its actions to undermine any possibility of constructive dialogue by illegally engaging in areas within the Greek continental shelf for illegal seismic surveys or through the provocative visit of the Turkish Vice President to the occupied Varosha."