France is intensifying pressure on Greece to supply its Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, Ekathimerini reported on April 10.
This comes as Athens remains highly reluctant to approve the transfer due to domestic political concerns, financial commitments, and regional security priorities.
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To overcome Greek resistance, Paris has reportedly proposed a package of lucrative incentives, including the possibility of supplying Athens with advanced Rafale fighter jets at a significantly reduced price. While Greece has already contributed crucial air defense systems to Kyiv, including Crotale missiles and various munitions, it has firmly held the line against transferring combat aircraft without guaranteed financial and strategic compensation.
According to Ekathimerini, the political climate in Greece—combined with complex financial commitments to a US-backed arms purchasing fund—remains the primary obstacle rather than operational shortages.
Beyond the war in Ukraine, the two nations are also heavily coordinating their response to the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf. Following the outbreak of hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran, France has proposed forming a joint naval force to escort commercial shipping through the highly contested Strait of Hormuz.
Although Greece initially rejected the proposal publicly, officials are quietly continuing to examine the plan in closed-door talks. Both Athens and Paris agree that any active maritime mission would likely only commence after the current hostilities subside, relying heavily on the long-term cooperation of Gulf states, Ekathimerini wrote.
Amid these high-stakes negotiations over Ukraine and the Middle East, the 2021 bilateral defense agreement between Greece and France is scheduled to be officially renewed in the coming weeks without any major alterations.
The diplomatic pressure on Greece to supply its Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets aligns with France’s strategy to solidify its role as a primary architect of Ukraine’s modernized air defense network. Since their combat debut in Ukrainian skies, French-supplied Mirages have proven highly effective in intercepting Russian cruise missiles and Shahed drone swarms, with Ukrainian pilots reporting exceptional interception rates.
As Kyiv continues to integrate these systems into its layered air defense—and simultaneously works with Paris on a long-term transition to advanced Rafale jets—securing additional Mirage airframes from allies like Athens is critical. These extra jets would allow Ukraine to sustain its immediate combat air patrols and protect critical infrastructure against continued Russian aerial bombardments.
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