Greece Unveils $4 Billion U.S. Arms Expansion Amid Rising Turkey Tensions

Greece has agreed to spend up to $4 billion on U.S. weapons and aircraft upgrades as Athens expands its defense capabilities amid longstanding tensions with Turkey, according to two senior sources who spoke to Reuters.

The agreements were announced following the sixth round of the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Athens on Oct. 7, co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.

The package is being implemented through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. Greek officials said most of the purchases are already included in the government’s multiyear defense plan and that the spending will be spread over several years.

What the $4 Billion Package Includes

The package covers advanced missiles and precision-guided bombs for Greece’s F-16 Viper and F-35 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters, according to a senior Greek defense ministry official. The official said the agreement also includes the upgrade of 37 F-16 Block 50 aircraft to the Viper configuration.

Greece currently operates 83 F-16 Vipers, with the broader upgrade program expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The country is also preparing to receive F-35 fighter jets as part of its long-term air force modernization program. The joint statement issued by Greece and the United States also announced the provision of Stryker armored vehicles to Greece.

The statement doesn’t clarify whether the Stryker transfer is included in the $4 billion figure, leaving the cost of individual components unspecified. Rubio described Greece as a “very important US ally” ahead of his visit, saying it is a place where Washington maintains “not just a military presence but strong economic ties.”

Greece has planned approximately €28 billion in defense spending through 2036, covering F-35 aircraft, helicopters and the “Achilles Shield,” a multilayered air defense system incorporating Israeli-made weapons.

Greece has also committed to higher defense spending under NATO’s new spending framework. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in July that the country had reached the alliance’s 3.5% defense-spending target for 2026.

Turkey Tensions Form Regional Backdrop

The agreements come as Greece and Turkey continue to dispute issues involving airspace, territorial waters and military activity in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey issued a Notice to Airmen covering five areas and six air routes in the Aegean from Sept. 25 through Oct. 27, 2026. Greece responded with a counter-NOTAM saying it didn’t recognize the availability of those areas for the activities described.

Separately, Turkish military aircraft carried out 10 violations of Greek national airspace on Sept. 11, according to Greek authorities. The Hellenic Air Force scrambled fighters and conducted two interceptions over the Aegean. Despite the disputes, Athens and Ankara have also maintained diplomatic contacts aimed at managing tensions between the two NATO members.

Wider U.S.-Greece Cooperation

The defense agreements were part of a broader set of outcomes from the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue. The two countries finalized Greece’s participation in the U.S. National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program with Florida, expanding military-to-military cooperation.

Athens and Washington also agreed to explore cooperation in defense industry innovation and emerging technologies. The joint statement said the two sides would continue efforts to improve interoperability between their armed forces.

Rubio separately confirmed that the two NATO allies agreed on a joint security plan for counterterrorism information sharing between their law enforcement agencies.