Greece Rejects Possible Meteor Missile Sale to Turkiye

Greece has voiced strong opposition to the potential sale of Meteor air-to-air missiles to Turkiye by a consortium that includes France, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed on Wednesday.

During a meeting with French Ambassador to Greece Laurence Auer, Dendias emphasised that such a deal would be incompatible with the “excellent strategic relations” between Greece and France.

Following discussions with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, Dendias formally requested an official briefing on reports regarding the missile sale.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Dendias reaffirmed Greece’s concerns, underlining the importance of defense cooperation between Athens and Paris.

The Meteor missile, developed by a European consortium, is considered one of the most advanced air-to-air weapons, significantly enhancing a country’s aerial combat capabilities. Any sale to Turkiye could shift the regional military balance, a key concern for Greece given the long-standing tensions between the two NATO allies.

The Greek government is expected to continue diplomatic efforts to prevent the sale, reinforcing its stance on regional security and strategic defense partnerships.