Greece is expected to participate in the new EU financing mechanism SAFE, as announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a social media post, emphasizing that “the defense and security of our homeland is a national matter“.
“Tomorrow we are officially submitting our proposal for inclusion in the SAFE mechanism, seeking low-interest loans of at least €1.2 billion to strengthen our national defense and Greek defense industry,” the Prime Minister stated, noting that “our inclusion in SAFE reinforces an already dynamic plan within the framework of the Long-term Defense Equipment Program (LTDEP), which while already set at €28.8 billion, now increases to €30 billion for the period 2025-2036“.
Full statement by Kyriakos Mitsotakis
The defense and security of our homeland is a national matter. For this reason, our government continues to strengthen the deterrent power and operational capability of the Armed Forces with planning, seriousness and strategic responsibility.
We are making full use of available European support tools – tools in the formation of which we played a leading role. Such as the activation of the national escape clause for defense enhancement, which secures fiscal space that will be fully utilized for the implementation of the Long-term Defense Equipment Program.
Our country, within the framework of the ReARM Europe program, will participate in the EU’s new SAFE financing mechanism. Tomorrow we are officially submitting our proposal for inclusion in the SAFE mechanism, seeking low-interest loans of at least €1.2 billion to strengthen our national defense and Greek defense industry.
Our inclusion in SAFE reinforces an already dynamic plan within the framework of the Long-term Defense Equipment Program (LTDEP), which while already set at €28.8 billion, now increases to €30 billion for the period 2025-2036. The expansion of the equipment program strengthens the Greek defense and technology industry, creates significant opportunities for investments, productive partnerships and new jobs, increases domestic added value and leads to greater national autonomy.
Greece actively participates in shaping European defense policy and security policy.
This is just the beginning. My position remains that Europe must make a leap more ambitious and faster than deterioration. And that it must create a European Investment Fund for critical strategic projects of common benefit, such as the development of a unified European anti-missile shield.
We invest in national defense because we invest in the security, stability and future of our homeland. And in a strategically autonomous and geopolitically mature Europe.
