US offers up to $ 200 mn boost in military aid to facilitate Greece’s arms transfers to Ukraine

Jan 30, 2024 - 12:52

In a letter sent to Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis on 27 January, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken outlined the steps to expand cooperation between Athens and Washington in the security field, according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. Blinken indicates openness to boosting US military aid to Greece to help enable Greek arms transfers to Ukraine.

The US proposes six key measures to enhance defense collaboration with Greece, including a potential sale of 40 F-35 jets and three Protector-class ships. The other five points include military aid for Greece, two of which are Ukraine-related:

$30 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) aid to encourage Greece to provide aid to Ukraine.
Proposed Excess Defense Articles (EDA) transfers to Greece pending Congressional notification:
- 2 C-130H aircraft;
- 10 P-3 aircraft engines;
- 60 Bradley fighting vehicles.
Proposal to provide up to four frigates to Greece as Excess Defense Articles requiring Congressional authorization.
Potential for $200 million in additional Foreign Military Financing to facilitate Greek arms transfers to Ukraine.
Prioritization of Greece to receive MRAP vehicles and potentially KC-135 tankers as Excess Defense Articles.

Regarding the $200 million offer to facilitate Greece to send its equipment to Ukraine, Blinken’s letter reportedly says:

“[W]e’re still keen on the defensive capabilities that Greece could pass on or sell to Ukraine. If Ukraine finds these capabilities appealing, and pending assessment of their worth by the US government, we can explore opportunities for potential additional Foreign Military Financing of up to 200 million dollars for Greece,” the letter reads.

GreekCityTimes suggests that it is about Geece’s Soviet-era equipment, of which the Greek Army has Tor, Osa, S-300 anti-air systems, Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, and ammo for all these systems. GreekCityTimes also notes that Kathimerini’s sources reported that Greece’s political and military leadership “has already given the necessary instructions for outdated systems and equipment” to be supplied to Ukraine.

Kathimerini says Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis hailed the US-pledged arms package as a means for his country to “boost its deterrent power across land, air, and sea” without burdening Greek taxpayers, as the aid would come “free-of-charge” from US stocks.

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