The accompanying passages from Greek and Saudi Arabian sources point to increasing military cooperation between the two countries, including Greece lending a US-made Patriot air defense missile system to Saudi Arabia. The Patriot anti-missile battery, and about 40 Greek military officers, as per the Status of Forces agreement that allows the Greek personnel to be stationed in Saudi Arabia for the duration of the battery’s deployment, aims to boost the Kingdom’s air defenses against missile attacks on critical infrastructure, either from Iran or Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen. The deployment reflects heightened Saudi concerns about the Iranian threat to critical infrastructure in the Kingdom, particularly in light of the recent tension between Iran and the US. This comes about a year after the US removed some military capabilities from Saudi Arabia, including Patriot missiles, and when Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities and military sites are becoming more frequent.
The agreement to lend the Patriots was finalized in April 2021, one month after the two countries conducted joint military exercises, named the “Eye of the Falcon 1.” As the final passage notes, the Royal Saudi Air Forces’ F-15C fighter jets traveled to the Greek island of Crete for the exercises, aimed to enhance the combat readiness of the Saudi air forces as well as facilitate the planning and implementation of air operations in the Mediterranean. The tightening Greek-Saudi Arabian military relationship is part of a broader trend of new multistate alignments emerging in the Eastern Mediterranean, which entails a set of economic and security alliances tying the Gulf States to Europe and Africa. (See: “A Perspective on Egypt-Greece Relations,” OE Watch, May 2021).
The Saudi and Greek air forces will carry out joint sorties and exercises in the skies over the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: “Greece Edging Closer to Saudi Arabia Militarily as Turkish Buffer,” The National Herald (English-language Greek daily newspaper), 5 June 2021. https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece_politics/arthro/greece_edging_closer_to_saudi_arabia_militarily_as_turkish_buffer-2376390/
… Greece is tightening military ties with Saudi Arabia, including lending a US-made Patriot air defense missile system as protection against Houthi attacks from Yemen.
“We signed an agreement to move a Patriot battery here in Saudi Arabia,” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on April 20. “This is a big step forward for our country regarding the cooperation with the Gulf countries and also a contribution to the wider security of the energy sources for the West,” the site said.
…
That came a month after Greece and Saudi Arabia held joint drills to develop the skills of air and technical crews, with Saudi F-15s and Greece’s F-16, Mirage 2000 and F-4 Phantom fighter jets taking part.
Source: “Greek FM to discuss military ties with Saudi Arabia,” Arab News (an English-language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia), 20 February 2021. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1812761/saudi-arabia
Greece is eyeing the possibility of stationing a Patriot anti-missile battery on Saudi soil to help the Kingdom boost its air defenses against missile attacks on its critical infrastructure, mainly from Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen. …Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said the two countries may be close to signing a Status of Forces Agreement that will allow Greek military personnel to be stationed in Saudi Arabia for as long as the Patriot battery remains in the Kingdom.
…
The plan is for the Patriot to be accompanied by around 40 Greek officers. Riyadh will cover the cost of transport and of upgrading the battery.
Source: “Royal Saudi Air Forces personnel arrive in Greece for military exercise,” Arab News (an English-language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia),13 March 2021. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1824901/saudi-arabia
Royal Saudi Air Forces fighter jets arrived in Greece on Saturday ahead of their participation in military exercise Eye of the Falcon 1, which will take place in March.
The F-15C fighter jets touched down with their air, technical and support crews in Crete.
The Saudi and Greek air forces will carry out joint sorties and exercises in the skies over the Mediterranean Sea.
…
The exercise aims to refine and develop the skills of the air and technical crews and raise the combat readiness of Saudi air forces.
It also aims to facilitate the exchange of military experiences in planning and implementing air operations.
Hits: 0