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On December 16th, Greek parliament approved the 2021 state budget, which includes a massive increase in defense expenditures.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government aims to increase spending on military capacity by 57% compared to that of 2019.
Greece’s defense budget is projected to reach around 5.5 billion euros (US$6.6 billion). This actually isn’t 50% more, but actually more than doubles 2019’s spending.
This year’s economic contraction is expected to reach 10.5%, according to a government projection in the country’s 2021 budget.
Despite that defense spending is at an all-time high, mostly because of tensions with Turkey.
Despite the hardship, Greece will purchase 18 French Rafale fighter jets, for which it will pay 1.5 billion euros in 2021 from a total of 2.5 billion euros.
“Within a few days, the deal on the acquisition of eighteen Rafale type jets from France will be signed here in Athens,” PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis told members of parliament.
“Never before has such a complex and important military program been carried out so quickly and efficiently,” he said.
He also said the Greek government wishes to acquire new frigates, helicopters, and drones, upgrade its F-16 fleet and recruit an additional 15,000 personnel to its ranks.
Specifically, Greece also wants to buy four new frigates as well as ammunition and other accessories.
The deal with France should be approved in the days following December 16th, and French Defense Minister Florence Parly will sign the contract in Athens during her visit in the week starting on December 21st.
Pilots will begin training in France in early 2021, while the first six planes — which have been previously used — will arrive in Greece by July, Defense Ministry officials said.
In 2019, Greece spent 2.3% of gross domestic product on defense, placing it third behind the United States and Bulgaria in terms of proportion of the economy.
Greece has always had high military spending compared to other NATO members, even during the financial crash in 2007.
The government’s decision to increase defense spending, of course, wasn’t hailed by everybody, as opposition politician Alexis Tsipras had the following to say:
“If there is one word that describes the draft state budget for 2021 and the government’s management of all critical issues, it is ‘failure,’” he said.
Commenting on the government’s plan for the military budget, Tsipras said “we are not voting against the spending increase. But we do not give you a blank check, without consultation, without a plan and strategy.”
Turkey hasn’t commented on the increase in spending, but both countries are also allied NATO members. Regardless, the key reason for the massive increase is the tensions between Athens and Ankara, mostly caused due to Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Turkey also flooded the Greek border with illegal migrants, and even had its armed forces attempt to break down a border fence and shot tear gas, and more, in an attempt to pressure the European Union in a softer stance towards its activities in Syria’s Idlib.
France, who’s selling warplanes to Greece, also strongly opposes Turkey’s intervention in Libya against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).
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Buy,Buy,Buy because Greece’s corrupt Endless money pit institutions (universities,public sector as a whole) Are incapable of producing any value or tangible result. Not that the private sector is much better,only a few are truly productive.
Frankly, Greece and their Zionist masters are both broke and live off western taxpayers, however, lately they have found the Wahhabi idiots of the Persian Gulf like UAE to fund them. No amount of petro-dollars from Arabs can change the strategic equation in the region. Turkey can destroy Greece at will.
yes smoke more weed
‘ No amount of petro-dollars from Arabs can change the strategic equation in the region’ i guess that goes for Turkey draining petrol dollars from the Qatar terrorist funding state right?
A bit brazen for a bankrupt country on EU and IMF loans, hope they dont want to dethrone Ukraine for the most retarded nation in Europe title.
used to be like that. a change in economic policy, a new strategy towards investments etc led to a huge flow of money though loans with negatve interest not from the EU or IMF but from investors all over the world.
Considering Goldman Sachs bankrupted Greece.
HOW do we then give cash as money for the purchase of defense equipment … after we have gone bankrupt ??? Think for a moment
Their leader back ditched the drachma smiled at their boss,butt hurt n all but still, What they get for pretending to know everything,whoms so little in the know: Tsipraki and varoufaki are dogs,fake left and fake democracy,made for disasters!
Who is telling you this nonsense that we have gone bankrupt ??? We have 37 billion reserves ONLY for defense spending … without counting the other money we have on hand for other needs.
You are on lifesupport by the EU more precisly Germany and the ECB. You had to cut pensions and walfare programs. But you are not alone, Italy, Spain, Portugal are in a similiar situation, followed by the UK and France.
Let Germany reduce pensions and salaries first and then us. The EU is geopolitically a corpse.There is no united Europe … it is over …
thet USED TO BE tha case . not anymore. we went through a very stick austerity programm. now we have investments anounced every day worth million of Euros thus we found our way to the global markets of cheep oney loans. now we offer stability for investors . recently 16 billion were lended in negative interest. NEGATIVE!!! that occurs only for Germany in the EU. ge that ?
But its still a loan… You can bet they want something in return. Either the pension funds or open borders for migrants, probably both.
Greece has currently $11billion in Forex reserves. Very small ammount when my country Hungary with a similar population number has $37billion and we are considered to be amongst the poor EU countries…
thats just numbers…come a visit Greece and see how the average Greek lives how the average Hungarian lives.
Have you ever been to Hungary? If not keep your assumptions. I based my analysis on hard facts. Im not saying you are starving, I only said you cant afford it.
Have you ever been in GREECE;; 90% of Greeks have OWN HOME. While in Europe the largest percentage rents. And not only our house in the city but also in the village or at sea. Each house has at least 2 cars. Do not listen to the nonsense written on the internet.
yes ive been to hungary and felt sorry for those poor bastards…they dont even have money to eat meat… the get really nervous when u dont eat all your food in a restaurant…they are really hungry…it in the name as well “hung a rey” lol
We have other stocks … and Greece as an hour can be small..but it has everything in its subsoil !! We have GOLD … NATURAL GAS AND OIL.
But they have since they trusted tsipraki and varofarki voting farce worse yet since bending over ditching the drachma,there will be no more free lunch,everyone must comply or go to jail,where as ukraine atleast have their beloved hryvna regardless,and along with russia as their true #1 trade partner(real world+black economic system) about 80 billion in the red,but stand more chance towards redemption in the future provided they use their head not hate!
Greece now will be serving only debt here on in,shame in a way,but you can’t mock anyone living there for atleast trying to defend their own existence,too bad eu-epp own them now!
Who said Greece is bunkrupt? the shit media? Greece is as Bunkrupt the rest of the World is…Now if you were bordering Turkey and didnt spend on defences then you would have been the most retarded nation.
I didn’t say dont spend on defense but raising it by 57% when you are on lifesupport aint very smart. Whats the debt to GDP ratio of Greece again…?
whats the debt to GDP ratio for US? for Russia? for Turkey? which one has the lowest iterest rates when borrowing money?
U.S. 134% Russia 12%
Turkey around 53%.
the only thing that was not smart was not rising it sooner… you dont have Erdogan for neighbor so you cant understand
190%…?
Don’t mind the Russian trolls, they are upset Greece buys Mirage instead of Sukhoi
%57…Does Turks still have such a fear factor to Greece?..poor souls.xD
Turkey needs to look east, that is where the world’s future lies. Enhanced military ties with Iran and cooperation in defence projects would be beneficial for both as they have battle tested militaries and defence industries. Turkey and Iran have the military and technical infrastructure to produce high tech weaponry like jets, if they cooperate.
we have to exit from Nato to co-operate in all military layers…ı dont see such an option in short-term…
The whole world is rapidly re-aligning into a Eurasian multi-polar world, NATO is being sustained as an anti-China alliance and to weaken Russia further via Ukraine and Georgia. I believe that Turkey, being a key Muslim power will be targeted by the Zionists and their US patsies as it has upset the post WW2 Yalta western imposed concord. US is on the outer and things will only get worse for it. Turkey is large enough to fend for itself.
I agree Turkey should asap leave NATO asap! and face the consequences…but then it will be free to cary on from there
Do you know why the Turks are afraid of us ??? Because we are BAD GUYS. Greeks have a reputation for being smart and cunning…“I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts” :)) :))
lol..if turks are afraid of Greeks than they are not Turks….simple as that…Your cunning is working only at ”tourist traps” nothing more…%57 defense increase speaks itself…
” if turks are afraid of Greeks than they are not Turks….simple as that.” Since you are not afraid of us then why were you worried that we are being equipped ??? See what the Turkish newspaper writes here.
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/yunanistandan-silahlanma-cilginligi-41690663
the author is Greek by the way…and %57 increase is non-sense..you just want to take opportunity when we have serious issues with Usa and europe…ı bet all these stuff will never-ever be used….
” %57 defense increase speaks itself…”
This shows that we Greeks do not underestimate any enemy, and we equip ourselves to be free.
Greece can go with China and also India so what do they need a military for ? Whereas Turkey is not able to be on India’s side because India will want to be seen as EU associated in-spirit, and the EU hates Turkey.
So nothing much will ever happen, brother Erdogan knows this and so doesn’t mind helping out in Libya fighting the Jew maggot Haftar a small final part of the failed intervention known as the Arab Spring, which was smashed by Muammar Gaddafi and President Assad, now had the Muslim Brotherhood won outright they would never have ditched Britain and France, the architects of the Arab Spring, and Greece would now be triumphant over Turkey, instead of the other way around.
Greece is totally dependent on EU and US aid and not in a position to go to China without Zionist approval. India is in worse shape than Greece and what can it offer? India sold Armenia 4 batteries of artillery range finders and all malfunctioned, India sold Ecuador 6 helicopters and all fell out of the sky. So Greece seeking Indian assistance is not a real option.
Ecuador will sell the three remaining three Dhruv utility helicopters it bought from India’s Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) it purchased between 2009 and 2012. Ecuador’s Defence Minister Ricardo Patino announced the decision on October 20, 2014. Out of the 6 original helicopters sold, 3 crashed due to engine failure and structural problems resulting in fatalities.
hahahaha Indian little brown man no learn to make toilet,,,, shitski in street hahhahahaha
Biden will not capitulate to China hell reserve that relationship for Hunter and mates to make a good few billions while claiming India is the emergent power house economy (India will expand at least 1 or 2 % more than China going foward as the were prior to the Pandemic, but it’s not really about a shooting war between Greek and Turkey it’s about influence and Biden Harris will be pushing Greek interests by falsely maintaining a warm war food war with China.
You seem to be pinning your hopes on China linking up with Iran and Russia, which is possible as long as Trump remains active pushing China away from the maggot Jews.
Netanyahu and the mug Scott Morrison were the only two leaders stupid enough to hitch their careers to the Trump Train.
I’m expecting TT to conk out, when it does, if it does, India will be the champion of Biden’s fabricated Global strategy with the EU in second place, actually China took Japan’s place in similar circumstances, remember when the US / Japanese trade war began in late 1970’s after China was embraced for the same reason as India is being propositioned today, if Trump is not there Jinping will compete with India for US affection and oppose Palestine as they were doing in practical ways before Trump scared the crap out of them.
However the Democrats are not stupid and know it won’t work but Xi Jinping have no choice but to support the Israeli facsimiles.
(Usual) bad news for Greek creditors. French Rafale…F-16 “Viper” block 70 upgrade + flock of “flop” F-35 cost almost as much as hole Greek army ;) But hay if that can bring them closer to the victory against the Turkey, Greece is ready to sell even EU and send Angela Merkel to prostitution to buy that stuff…
So indeed NATO is dead, dysfunctional, when bankrupt member increases spending on arms to counter other NATO member sitting same table.
It is greed. France have controlling representative in IMF and US controls “World bank”. So as long as Greece buys weapons from countries that have decisive influence (US, France even Germany), they can buy those weapons even with borrowed money, even when they are deeply in debt.
At this point (after the sanctions) it is questionable, how much is Turkey still in NATO really? More like on their definitive way out of NATO. And even if NATO survives Turkey leaving, they will not be the same organization. And they might start to fall apart gradually (by stages from which Turkey was first step) EU will follow the same destiny after NATO.
It is very good that EU starts to get out from US umbrella mentality and start building real armies.
They had war in the 70’s. And USSR lost the cold war :)
actually is the opposite…EU is even happier when Greece uses their money in loan forms…maybe Christine should give a blow job instead?
Of course that banks love to give credits to earn interests, but not to those over debated. Joke was only on quantity of debt Greece has and Western double standards. If that money was asked to buy food for babies they would say “NO” but since it brings big arms sales profits for US & France than “YES”.
IMF is busy trying to figure out what will it do when Turkey asks for help which is imminent. Greece found other sources cheap money. negative interest dude?, do you know what that is?
And what was mysterious about “negative interest”?!?? And do you know what “enculée” means? (try Google if not) That is picture of Greece in the near future! It means that those who borrow expect imminent hyper inflation that will go far above protection level of that “negative interest”. Good luck with “negative interest” loan sharks! http://colleenkellymellor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/loan-shark-pic.jpg
hahhahaa Gayreek beggar buy France plane with Alemania money ……Great Khan like joke……..
as the region becomes more militarized regional conflicts become likely—seen in Libya, Syria, etc. there are many complicating factors where alliances collide, intersect, conflict, etc…
they, the greeks, are toast however much they increase their defense budget. just ain’t fit for any disagreement with turkey. they should however look out or they might find the turks sitting firmly in athens.
A country with “weak” army will get bully…I like what Greece is doing, yet I can’t ignore the debt they are in right now. Again what they gonna do, asking for help from fuking useless pieces of shit in NATO, that can just talk like morons and do nothing. Best of luck to Greece.
BTW I remember there were talk about China helping Greece with their debt – selling/renting Greece ports.
chinese interests bought the port of piraeus in the aftermath of the first economic meltdown, which was a disappointment since the eu planned that a european company, like from germany, would be the buyer not so.
EU also thought they could trade with Iran after Trump put the sanctions back, but again EU is full of shit that can’t help it self let alone dare to make such comments about standing up to US. I think even if an EU company tried to buy the Greece’s port China would have take in it by offering more money and would invest more money into the port. Which they did and made more jobs for Greeks.
EU companies wouldn’t do such thing, For example, right after Trump left Iran nuclear deal EU companies in Iran run the fuk away. They are after money and nothing more but China have much bigger plans which would make Greece to go with them.
But it look like China is looking to turn Greece’s Piraeus port into Europe’s biggest port. I don’t think any EU company could have done.
poor greeks will soon have a better airforce than Turks, what a shame