Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented to the Greek Parliament on Wednesday, a new defense plan worth 25 billion euros, with a 12-year horizon.
He pointed to the broader impact of a robust defense policy, citing Greece’s ability to deter threats, such as migration flows at the Evros border, safeguard its rights in the Aegean Sea and secure strategic alliances with the United States and France.
“These partnerships provide crucial security assurances in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment,” he stressed.
He argued that “security is a pillar of prosperity, as economic growth and social cohesion depend on a secure environment. Without protection from external threats, sustainable development and innovation cannot flourish.”
Mitsotakis dismissed the traditional debate, often raised by left-wing parties, between military spending and social investment, calling it “outdated and dangerous, especially in a world undergoing rapid geopolitical shifts, trade disputes, and technological competition.”
The prime minister also addressed the shifting global power dynamics, stressing that Greece must make critical defense decisions in response to evolving military, economic, and technological challenges. He noted that U.S. defense priorities regarding NATO appear to be changing, requiring Europe to reconsider its own strategic positioning.
Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s advocacy for European defense autonomy, a stance that initially had limited support but has since gained traction among European partners. Recent EU defense decisions, he asserted, align closely with Greece’s national interests.
Among the most significant achievements is the introduction of a fiscal escape clause, allowing additional defense investments without breaching EU budgetary constraints.
However, Mitsotakis made it clear that this fiscal flexibility would not be misused for excessive spending.
Greece may need to invest more considering nobody seems to be concerned that Germany is intending to ‘rearm’ with 1 trillion euros.