Washington is responding positively to the signing of the landmark bilateral agreement between Greece and Israel for the deployment of the advanced new air defense and anti-ballistic missile system known as the “Shield of Achilles.” The United States has taken a clear stance in favor of this bilateral defense cooperation, emphasizing its pivotal role in strengthening security across the broader region.
The US State Department spokesperson underscored that “the United States welcomes the cooperation between Greece and Israel, which advances our shared security objectives.” The spokesperson further noted that the Athens–Tel Aviv defense partnership serves the common defense and security interests of the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
The American endorsement carries significant geopolitical weight, coming at a moment when officials from the neighboring country are making no secret of Turkey’s strong displeasure over the strategic cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. At the same time, this initiative is directly linked to broader developments in the Southeastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus’s recent acquisition of a similar air defense system is laying the groundwork for the formation of a unified air defense architecture. The Israeli President’s visit to Nicosia yesterday and his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides further confirmed the strength of the trilateral alliance on security and regional affairs.
International relations expert Alexandros Despotopoulos, speaking to parapolitika.gr, described the State Department spokesperson’s comment as an extremely positive development for Greece. In his analysis, he explained: “The United States, at this moment in the region, perceives Iran and Israel’s enemies broadly as a threat. They also recognize that they want NATO member states to increase defense spending, and they see Greece moving in that direction. So the two main reasons behind their approval are: first, they see a member state fortifying its defenses — among other reasons — against the broader threat from the Middle East; and second, a NATO member is arming itself in a way that is compatible with Western systems. That last point is also extremely significant.”
Despotopoulos: The US message to Turkey — “Don’t harass Greece, don’t concern yourself with the Patriots on Karpathos or the Shield of Achilles”
Despotopoulos further emphasized that the State Department spokesperson’s statement was an unequivocal endorsement of the Greek position, sending a clear message to Turkey. As he put it, with this statement “the State Department — taking into account the active involvement of American companies in the region — is signaling to Ankara: ‘Don’t harass Greece when it is strengthening its defenses. You know very well that Greece poses no threat to Turkey, and the Greek islands don’t threaten you. Don’t concern yourself with the Patriots on Karpathos or the Shield of Achilles — there are far more serious challenges to deal with right now.'”
For his part, Eddie Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), argues that the United States views the Greece–Israel–Cyprus defense alliance as critically important to Western interests. As he told parapolitika.gr: “America sees the defense alliance between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus as a positive development — one that is significant for Western interests. And it may also view it as a model for what it expects from its allies. Not just in terms of how much they invest in defense, but especially in demonstrating the capabilities being built for the new kind of warfare, for the new challenges of this century — not the wars of the last one.”
On the question of Turkey and the message the State Department is sending, Zemenides argues that Turkey has spent years trying to convince the United States that the Greece–Cyprus–Israel alliance is anti-Turkish in nature. As he explains: “Turkey has been trying to portray this alliance as some kind of anti-Turkish agenda. But America sees it as a pro-Western development, directed against threats from the Middle East and Russia. Furthermore, it shows that America is once again paying close attention to our region — and is keeping a very close eye on what China is doing there. This is especially significant given that the statement came directly from the State Department. Let’s not forget that Marco Rubio, who is now Secretary of State, has been familiar with this plan for some time. Let’s not forget what he co-authored in two pieces of legislation alongside Menendez and Bilirakis — that he views Greece, Israel, and Cyprus as stable allies, and sees threats in the region emanating from Turkey, Iran, China, and Russia.”
This public statement by the US State Department was received with particular satisfaction at the Greek Ministry of National Defense — something that was evident during the meeting between Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and his Cypriot counterpart, Vasilis Palmas, where the Shield of Achilles took center stage.
It is worth recalling that the Shield of Achilles is a multi-layered protection system designed to counter air and ballistic missile threats, with integrated drone coverage, at a total budget of €3.035 billion. The system was designed entirely by the Greek military staff and is set to be fully operational by July 2029.
