Greece is mandating that its own defense industry take at least 25% of every new military procurement contract, a policy...

Greece is mandating that its own defense industry take at least 25% of every new military procurement contract, a policy that Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has made a cornerstone of government strategy. The goal is to stop defense spending from functioning purely as a fiscal drain and redirect it as investment back into the Greek economy through manufacturing, jobs, and technology. The push came into focus at the opening of the fourth production unit of METLEN's M Technologies Hub in Volos, where government ministers and industry leaders aligned on the same message. Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos called the METLEN investment emblematic of Greece's industrial reconstruction, and announced a dedicated 150 million euro development fund specifically for defense sector investment. METLEN chairman and CEO Evangelos Mytilineos called the moment overdue, saying it is time for the Greek armed forces and domestic industry to work together the way they do in most developed countries. He also proposed that procurement bids offering more than 25% Greek participation should receive additional scoring weight, creating stronger incentives for companies to invest locally. Industry representatives are pushing for the 25% requirement to be written permanently into law, with clear rules and enforcement mechanisms. The Greek Defense Industry Association has warned that without binding legislation, participation risks becoming a formality on paper rather than real industrial output. The timing is seen as favorable. The EU is significantly increasing its defense spending and pushing member states to build up domestic production capacity. For Greece, which already has an extensive arms modernization program underway, that EU-level shift creates additional openings for local manufacturers to enter international supply chains and secure long-term contracts. #GreeceDefense #GreekIndustry #NATO