Greece is strengthening the United Arab Emirates’ air defence capabilities by supplying ammunition for anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic systems, following a request from Abu Dhabi under the bilateral defence cooperation agreement signed in 2020.
The development comes after a UAE Air Force C-17 transport aircraft was spotted at Elefsina Air Base, west of Athens, on March 28, signalling ongoing military coordination between the two countries.
Athens’ decision reflects the growing depth of Greek-Emirati defence relations, which have significantly expanded in recent years amid shifting security dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Strategic partnership shaped by 2020 crisis
Greece’s commitment to the UAE is closely tied to the support it received during the heightened tensions with Turkey in 2020, when the two countries came close to military confrontation multiple times.
During that period, the UAE deployed F-16 fighter jets to Crete as a show of solidarity. In the years that followed, Abu Dhabi continued to support Athens by supplying components, spare parts and ammunition for Greek naval units as well as Army Aviation Apache helicopters.
The cooperation has since evolved into a broader strategic partnership, underpinned by mutual defence commitments and increasing interoperability between the two armed forces.
Dendias Gulf tour reinforces defence cooperation
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias visited the UAE this week, where he held high-level talks with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Fadel Al Mazrouei.
The visit forms part of a broader Gulf tour that also includes Qatar, highlighting Greece’s growing role as a security partner in the region.
Earlier in March, a Qatari Air Force C-17 transport aircraft landed at Tanagra Air Base and reportedly transferred a portion of Greece’s Patriot missile stock to Al Udeid Air Base, further underlining defence coordination between Athens and Gulf states.
Greece has also maintained a military presence in Saudi Arabia, where the Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia (ELDYSA) has deployed Patriot missile systems to help protect critical energy infrastructure in Yanbu on the Red Sea.
Although Dendias was unable to visit Saudi Arabia during this tour, the ongoing deployment highlights Athens’ expanding security footprint across the Gulf.
At the core of Greece’s engagement with regional partners is a broader strategic message: that Athens remains a reliable ally which honours its defence agreements, particularly at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
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