Greece, France to sign $2.8 billion fighter jet deal

Greece will purchase $2.8 billion dollars worth of fighter aircraft from France as tensions continue with Turkey despite the start of new talks.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

25 January, 2021

Greece will purchase Rafale fighter jets from France [Getty]

Greece is due to sign a 2.3 billion euro ($US2.8 billion) deal with France on Monday to purchase 18 Rafale fighter jets as tensions grow with neighbouring Turkey.

Florence Parly, the French defence minister, is due in Athens to sign the agreement to deliver 12 used and six new aircraft built by Dassault Aviation over two years, starting in mid-2021.

France has sided with Greece in a dispute over boundaries in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean that has brought NATO members Greece and Turkey to the brink of war several times in recent decades.

Tension spiked again last summer when a Turkish exploration mission in disputed waters triggered a dangerous military build-up.

Greece and Turkey have agreed to restart talks aimed at resolving a dispute peacefully but Athens says is it will continue a multi-billion dollar program to upgrade its military.

Starting in May, mandatory national service in the Greek Armed Forces will be increased from nine to 12 months to boost the number of people serving in uniform.

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