Greece will not be transferring its Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, citing ...

Greece will not be transferring its Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, citing the need to protect Greece's own defense capabilities. Mitsotakis made clear that depleting Greece's air defense arsenal is not something Athens is willing to do, stating that the country must not undermine its own security in the process. The comment signals Greece's position on a question that has been circulating among NATO allies about which countries might contribute advanced air defense systems to Kyiv. Greece operates one of the few Patriot batteries in southeastern Europe, and its strategic location between Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean makes those systems a core part of the country's defense posture. Athens has faced pressure from within NATO circles to contribute more hardware to Ukraine's war effort, but Mitsotakis appears to be drawing a firm line. The statement is notable given Greece's ongoing tensions with Turkey in the Aegean and over Cyprus. Sending Patriots to Ukraine would leave Greece with a reduced capacity to respond to any escalation closer to home, something the government is clearly not prepared to risk. Greece has provided non-lethal aid and humanitarian support to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, but heavy weapons transfers, particularly air defense systems, have remained off the table. #Greece #Mitsotakis #NATO