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Israel and Greece are strong collaborators in aspects of military, intelligence, economy and culture. They are part of the “Energy Triangle”, that refers to the extraction of gas from Israel and Cyprus to Europe through Greece. Greece and Israel maintain strong military cooperation around joint army exercises and the share of intelligence information. Israel exported among others drones and missile boats to Greece.
Israel and Greece consider each other as strong collaborators in the aspects of military, intelligence, economy and culture. Both countries are part of the “Energy Triangle”, which referred to the extraction of oil and gas from both Israel and Cyprus, which will be delivered to mainland Europe with a pipeline through Greece, signed by an agreement between the three countries on January 2020. [1]
Israel and Greece have international trade and economic agreements on avoidance of double taxation and on Research and Development (R&D). At 2019 Israel was number 32 in the list of countries exporting to Greece with exports worth of $307,03m. Products that are being exported to Greece are among other things mineral fuels, oils, machinery, boilers, plastics, iron and steel and chemicals.
Greece and Israel have developed strategic ties in the areas of defense and energy, while ongoing cooperation between the two countries’ military leaderships in exchanging information on potential threats and carrying out joint exercises.[2]
Joint Army trainings between Israel and Greece:
In April 2014 the Israeli Army and Ministry of Defense opened a military attaché office in Greece. Greece is one of only three countries that signed a “Status of Forces Agreement” (SOFA) with Israel. The agreement enables Israel in hosting Greek military forces in its territory or stationing Israeli military forces in the territory of Greece, as part of the military agreements and comprehensive security arrangements between the two countries.
On September 2017 the Hellenic Navy and Israeli Navy signed an agreement to commit further cooperation in their shared security and strategic goals[6].
At 2019 Israel and Greece published their plan to build an Israeli advanced long-range naval radar system (OTH) on the Greek island of Crete. With a combination of UAVs the radar system will be capable of monitoring an area with a radius of 600km. [7]
In June 2020, Israel and Greece signed a cooperation agreement on cybersecurity. The agreement includes conducting joint projects for enhancing national cyber platforms and cooperating on workforce training initiatives. It also includes increasing cyber resilience by sharing government cyber security know-how, best practices, legal and regulatory frameworks, methodologies, and strategic insights.[8]
In July 2020, 90% of the Greek bus and military vehicle manufacture Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO) were acquired by two Israeli companies, SK Group and Plasan. Plasan is owned by Kibbutz Sasa, specializes in vehicle protection and armored tactical vehicles. [9]
Since 2010 more than 16 diplomatic visits were documented, including visits of the prime ministers, presidents, Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs and Greek and Israeli military chiefs.
There is also documentation of Greek police delegations visiting Israel with the key focus of learning methods of security at ports and other transport hubs.[10]
In September 2020, the Greek Defense Ministry announced negotiations with Elbit on modernization and rearmament (especially Apache helicopters, F-16 and Mirage-2000) of the Greek Air Force estimated at several tens of millions of euros. [11]
In December 2020 Greece and Israel have finalized an agreement to open a new international flight training school in Kalamata, Greece. Elbit will set up the flight school that will include a combat simulator called the Mission Training Center (MTC) similar to the one it provided to the Israeli Air Force in 2013. The deal is reportedly valued at more than 1.3 billion euros and will be carried out over 22 years.[12]
Greece continues to host large numbers of asylum seekers while failing adequately to protect their rights. As of December 2019, more than 40,000 asylum seekers[13], the majority women and children, were on the Greek islands, including more than 33,400 in camps designed to host around 6,200[14]. Greek policy continued to trap thousands in overcrowded and abysmal conditions on the islands. People in camps continued to face insanitary conditions, lack of proper medical care and violence, including based on gender. There is evidence of Greece blocking asylum seekers who arrive on the Aegean islands from moving to the mainland. In addition, there are allegations of pushbacks at the Greek-Turkish border. Advocates demand an investigation as refugees report violence by Greek police — including incidents in which masked men pushed people back across the border. [15] Amnesty International reported in the first quarter of 2020 about asylum-seekers and migrants being killed and abused at the Greek-Turkish borders. Greek border forces reportedly fired live ammunition and tear gas against asylum-seekers and migrants.[16]
The European Court of Human Rights ruled twice in 2019 that Greece is in violation of its human rights obligations by detaining unaccompanied children in so-called protective custody in police station cells and detention centers.
Allegations of excessive use for force, torture and other ill-treatment by law enforcement officials persisted. In the last quarter of 2019, there was a spike in reports of such incidents against individuals during arrest and detention, journalists and students.[17] Greece has seen an alarming rise in police violence, amid reports of unprovoked attacks by officers that have seen protesters beaten with batons and people strip-searched in broad daylight.
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Product | Company | Year | Deal Size | Comments | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
three Heron drones
| IAI
| 2020
| €35.5m
| lease, for maritime surveillance missions, including the training of Greek operators.
| Link |
3 Nirit Class SAAR 4.5 offshore patrol vessels
| Israel Shipyards Ltd., Rafael
| 2002
| $100m
| Link | |
SpyLite and ThunderB System UAS from Israel
| BlueBird
| 2015
| for Greek police
| Link | |
Spylite UAS drones
| BlueBird
| 2013
| for Greek police
| Link | |
15 Litening II aircraft EO systems
| Rafael
| 2000 (2004-2005)
| for F-4E combat aircraft
| Sipri
| |
OTH long range naval radar system (Over the Horizon)
| planned 2020
| only ordered, planned to be constructed on Crete
| Link |
1. ^ https://euro-sd.com/2020/03/allgemein/16506/military-cooperation-between-israel-greece-and-cyprus/
2. ^ https://www.ekathimerini.com/211991/article/ekathimerini/comment/greek-israeli-cooperation-in-defense-energy-important
3. ^ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11556442
4. ^ https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/IDF-begins-joint-naval-exercise-in-Mediterranean
5. ^ http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-uae-to-fly-together-in-greek-air-force-exercise/
6. ^ https://www.idf.il/en/articles/military-cooperation/strengthening-partnerships-in-2017/
7. ^ https://euro-sd.com/2020/03/allgemein/16506/military-cooperation-between-israel-greece-and-cyprus/
8. ^ https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202006/17/WS5ee978e4a310834817253939.html
9. ^ https://www.ekathimerini.com/255139/article/ekathimerini/business/israeli-venture-set-to-land-hellenic-vehicle-industry
10. ^ https://www.tovima.gr/2015/11/06/society/episkepsi-ellinwn-aksiwmatikwn-el-as-kai-limenikoy-sto-israil/
11. ^ https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2020/09/16/israel-arms-and-modernizes-the-army-of-turkeys-main-enemy/
12. ^ https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/47405
13. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/greece/report-greece/
14. ^ https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/greece
15. ^ https://www.dw.com/en/refugees-report-inhumane-treatment-by-greek-border-police/a-52109989
16. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/greece-turkey-asylum-seekers-and-migrants-killed-and-abused-at-borders/
17. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/greece/report-greece/
Israel and Greece are strong collaborators in aspects of military, intelligence, economy and culture. They are part of the “Energy Triangle”, that refers to the extraction of gas from Israel and Cyprus to Europe through Greece. Greece and Israel maintain strong military cooperation around joint army exercises and the share of intelligence information. Israel exported among others drones and missile boats to Greece.
Israel and Greece consider each other as strong collaborators in the aspects of military, intelligence, economy and culture. Both countries are part of the “Energy Triangle”, which referred to the extraction of oil and gas from both Israel and Cyprus, which will be delivered to mainland Europe with a pipeline through Greece, signed by an agreement between the three countries on January 2020. [1]
Israel and Greece have international trade and economic agreements on avoidance of double taxation and on Research and Development (R&D). At 2019 Israel was number 32 in the list of countries exporting to Greece with exports worth of $307,03m. Products that are being exported to Greece are among other things mineral fuels, oils, machinery, boilers, plastics, iron and steel and chemicals.
Greece and Israel have developed strategic ties in the areas of defense and energy, while ongoing cooperation between the two countries’ military leaderships in exchanging information on potential threats and carrying out joint exercises.[2]
Joint Army trainings between Israel and Greece:
In April 2014 the Israeli Army and Ministry of Defense opened a military attaché office in Greece. Greece is one of only three countries that signed a “Status of Forces Agreement” (SOFA) with Israel. The agreement enables Israel in hosting Greek military forces in its territory or stationing Israeli military forces in the territory of Greece, as part of the military agreements and comprehensive security arrangements between the two countries.
On September 2017 the Hellenic Navy and Israeli Navy signed an agreement to commit further cooperation in their shared security and strategic goals[6].
At 2019 Israel and Greece published their plan to build an Israeli advanced long-range naval radar system (OTH) on the Greek island of Crete. With a combination of UAVs the radar system will be capable of monitoring an area with a radius of 600km. [7]
In June 2020, Israel and Greece signed a cooperation agreement on cybersecurity. The agreement includes conducting joint projects for enhancing national cyber platforms and cooperating on workforce training initiatives. It also includes increasing cyber resilience by sharing government cyber security know-how, best practices, legal and regulatory frameworks, methodologies, and strategic insights.[8]
In July 2020, 90% of the Greek bus and military vehicle manufacture Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO) were acquired by two Israeli companies, SK Group and Plasan. Plasan is owned by Kibbutz Sasa, specializes in vehicle protection and armored tactical vehicles. [9]
Since 2010 more than 16 diplomatic visits were documented, including visits of the prime ministers, presidents, Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs and Greek and Israeli military chiefs.
There is also documentation of Greek police delegations visiting Israel with the key focus of learning methods of security at ports and other transport hubs.[10]
In September 2020, the Greek Defense Ministry announced negotiations with Elbit on modernization and rearmament (especially Apache helicopters, F-16 and Mirage-2000) of the Greek Air Force estimated at several tens of millions of euros. [11]
In December 2020 Greece and Israel have finalized an agreement to open a new international flight training school in Kalamata, Greece. Elbit will set up the flight school that will include a combat simulator called the Mission Training Center (MTC) similar to the one it provided to the Israeli Air Force in 2013. The deal is reportedly valued at more than 1.3 billion euros and will be carried out over 22 years.[12]
Greece continues to host large numbers of asylum seekers while failing adequately to protect their rights. As of December 2019, more than 40,000 asylum seekers[13], the majority women and children, were on the Greek islands, including more than 33,400 in camps designed to host around 6,200[14]. Greek policy continued to trap thousands in overcrowded and abysmal conditions on the islands. People in camps continued to face insanitary conditions, lack of proper medical care and violence, including based on gender. There is evidence of Greece blocking asylum seekers who arrive on the Aegean islands from moving to the mainland. In addition, there are allegations of pushbacks at the Greek-Turkish border. Advocates demand an investigation as refugees report violence by Greek police — including incidents in which masked men pushed people back across the border. [15] Amnesty International reported in the first quarter of 2020 about asylum-seekers and migrants being killed and abused at the Greek-Turkish borders. Greek border forces reportedly fired live ammunition and tear gas against asylum-seekers and migrants.[16]
The European Court of Human Rights ruled twice in 2019 that Greece is in violation of its human rights obligations by detaining unaccompanied children in so-called protective custody in police station cells and detention centers.
Allegations of excessive use for force, torture and other ill-treatment by law enforcement officials persisted. In the last quarter of 2019, there was a spike in reports of such incidents against individuals during arrest and detention, journalists and students.[17] Greece has seen an alarming rise in police violence, amid reports of unprovoked attacks by officers that have seen protesters beaten with batons and people strip-searched in broad daylight.
Download as XLS or PDF or view the Google-Doc
Product | Company | Year | Deal Size | Comments | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
three Heron drones
| IAI
| 2020
| €35.5m
| lease, for maritime surveillance missions, including the training of Greek operators.
| Link |
3 Nirit Class SAAR 4.5 offshore patrol vessels
| Israel Shipyards Ltd., Rafael
| 2002
| $100m
| Link | |
SpyLite and ThunderB System UAS from Israel
| BlueBird
| 2015
| for Greek police
| Link | |
Spylite UAS drones
| BlueBird
| 2013
| for Greek police
| Link | |
15 Litening II aircraft EO systems
| Rafael
| 2000 (2004-2005)
| for F-4E combat aircraft
| Sipri
| |
OTH long range naval radar system (Over the Horizon)
| planned 2020
| only ordered, planned to be constructed on Crete
| Link |
Israel exports arms and military equipment to around 130 countries worldwide. Currently the database contains 48 countries and will continue to be updated regularly.
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