Greece Bets on Israel's Achilles Shield: Historic Defense Deal Amid Middle East Turmoil

On August 31, Greece and Israel signed a $3.5 billion defense agreement to build an integrated multi-layered defense system to protect Greek territory, named "Achilles Shield." The package includes David's Sling and Spyder interceptor systems, Barak air and missile defense systems, multi-mission radars, and a separate agreement adding the Drone Dome system to protect strategic targets against unmanned aerial vehicles.

This is the largest defense deal ever between the two countries and one of Israel's most significant export contracts in recent history. Notably, the agreement comes at a time when Israel's global standing is at its lowest in decades, with polls showing 65% of Greek citizens holding unfavorable views of Israel.

Why is Athens choosing defense cooperation with Israel? First, the shadow of the Israel-Iran conflict looms larger. In early March, an Iranian drone struck Cyprus, a neighboring country and close partner of Greece. This reinforced concerns that had emerged since 2024, when Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias urged Athens to develop its own anti-drone "dome," following Israel and the US shooting down about 300 Iranian drones and missiles.

The deal partly stems from a pragmatic need as nations seek military solutions to the growing drone threat. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have also purchased anti-drone technology from Ukraine. Israel, despite political disadvantages, holds practical advantages through its long-standing "arms diplomacy" strategy, using its defense industry as a springboard for bilateral relations.

The second factor is the "periphery doctrine"—a long-standing Israeli strategic pillar encouraging ties with non-Arab states on the periphery of the Levant to counter neighboring adversaries. In this case, the common threat between Israel and Greece is Turkey. Ironically, Turkey was once Israel's close partner under this doctrine, having recognized Israel in 1949 and maintained tight but secretive security relations for years.

However, bilateral ties collapsed after Israel launched its Gaza offensive in late 2008. Deepening disagreements over Israel's policies toward Palestine led Ankara to impose a trade embargo on Israel starting in 2024. No direct flights now operate between the two countries. In June, US President Donald Trump claimed Washington's pressure prevented Turkey from joining the anti-Iran war on Tehran's side, reflecting that the two no longer consider each other partners.

Greece is quickly filling the void left by Turkey. In late 2025, Israel, Cyprus, and Greece signed a "Joint Action Plan" to boost military cooperation. Energy also cements this strategic convergence, as major gas discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean have encouraged the three states to collaborate on pipelines and maritime security. About 744,000 Israelis visited Greece in 2025, surpassing the 2008 peak of 558,000 Israeli tourists to Turkey.

The growing regional rift into rival blocs is also fueling Israel-Greece ties. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed a "hexagon" alliance comprising Israel, Greece, Cyprus, India, and Arab and African nations. Six months later, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the joint Mecca Defense Pact—a deal largely overlapping with what analysts call an "Islamic alliance."

These developments signal a spreading crisis of confidence in the US as a security guarantor, posing challenges for Washington as allies increasingly compete with each other. The Achilles Shield agreement is a new expression of an old strategy, driven by the US-Israel war against Iran. Public skepticism may complicate Greek-Israeli relations, but the history of Israel-Turkey ties shows that high-level security cooperation can advance despite adverse public opinion. Paradoxically, the very conflicts that damage Israel's international standing increase the value of its military experience and defense technology.