Piglobal earthquake in Greece is caused by a new FInancial Times report according to which Greece is discussing or has agreed to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
Secret diplomacy and moves that could undermine Greece’s air defenses have been triggered by an FT article referring to discussions about sending Greece’s Patriot anti-aircraft array to Ukraine.
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Specifically, Greece, like Spain, according to the publication, are at the center of pressure as they have a large number of air defense systems, which Kiev can use to protect Ukrainian cities from escalating Russian attacks.
It is not the first time that secret diplomacy for Ukraine has been revealed, as Volodymyr Zelensky had publicly thanked Kyriakos Mitsotakis for their agreement for Greece to provide defensive support to Ukraine, with Maximou denying it at the time. Now, however, that the subject is coming back, the denial is even more… “lukewarm”.
The publication
“European leaders personally urged Spanish and Greek prime ministers Pedro Sanchez and Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a summit in Brussels last week to donate air defense systems to Ukraine, according to people briefed on the discussions,” the Financial Times reported in the report. them and add:
“To the two leaders, whose armed forces have more than a dozen Patriot systems between them, as well as some other systems, such as the S-300, European leaders pointed out that their needs are not as great as Ukraine’s and that they do not they faced no imminent threat.” “We all know who has them (including the air defense systems), we all know where they are and we all know who really needs them,” said one of the sources.
Auditor’s note: Risk uptick
It should be noted that Greece has already sent a Patriot array to Saudi Arabia, as well as a special unit of the Air Force. Also, Greece is actively involved with a frigate in the EU and NATO’s Operation Aspides to defend freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Combined, the government’s moves, while strengthening Greece’s geostrategic footprint in NATO and Europe, simultaneously undermine the geopolitical displacement in key areas. Combined, they increase geopolitical risk and the risk of retaliation on many levels.
SYRIZA: “Secret diplomacy” by the government
Commenting on the Financial Times article, SYRIZA spoke of “secret diplomacy” on the part of the government. The official opposition party asked the prime minister, in his statement, to inform the National Delegation, while criticizing the government representative for his comment that the government “listens and adapts to the comments of third parties and friends”.
“Following today’s reports by the government representative Mr. Marinakis in the political editors’ briefing, we call on Mr. Mitsotakis and the government to respond immediately as to whether or not the Financial Times article is true, according to which Greece was pressured at the Summit of the EU, in order to grant the S 300 anti-missile systems to Ukraine”, reports SYRIZA and adds:
“The revelations of the FT confirm the existence of secret diplomacy on the part of the government as well as secret agreements being made for Ukraine which Mr. Zelensky himself had revealed with his posts on social media thanking the Greek Prime Minister. Mr. Mitsotakis must immediately inform the National Delegation”.
PASOK: The Government must abandon evasions
“Today’s publication of the Financial Times newspaper, which comes after the recent post by the Ukrainian President on agreements to provide military assistance to Ukraine’s air defense on behalf of our country, underlines the need for full transparency and detailed information on all the commitments undertaken our country either at a bilateral or multilateral level”, commented in a joint statement Dimitris Biagis, head of K.T.E. Defense and Dimitris Manzos, responsible for K.T.E. External PASOK-Movement for Change.
“It is necessary to point out that Greece’s assistance to the defending Ukraine against the illegal invasion of Russia must always be under the inviolable condition of not diminishing the deterrent capacity of the Greek Armed Forces. The Government must abandon evasions and inform the national delegation about what it has agreed and what discussions it is having on this very important issue. We have requested this since March 22, 2024, when we submitted a request for the immediate convening of the competent National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament”, they add.
KKE: “Methods for further involvement of Greece in Ukraine”
“The Financial Times article reporting the existence of pressure from Zelensky and EU leaders on the Greek government to send Patriot and S-300 air defense systems, proves the schemes to further involve the country in the imperialist war in Ukraine,” reports the KKE in a statement.
“The response of the government representative to a related question, not only confirms these pressures, but – indirectly but clearly – also the existence of relevant negotiations, since what he denied is not the possibility of sending the weapons systems, but the “risking of the deterrent capacity of country” that can be caused by such a mission”, the KKE emphasized and concluded: “It is confirmed that the dangerous participation of the country in the imperialist war plans is being strengthened, with the responsibility of the ND government and the complicity of the other parties that swear to the “holy alliance of NATO”.
Government: No supply that will jeopardize our own air defenses
It is recalled that earlier, the government representative, commenting on the Financial Times article, stated that “there is not going to be any move that will even in the slightest endanger the country’s deterrent capability or air defense”.
“So far we have practically shown our help to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Beyond that, however, no move is going to be made – let me make this clear – that will endanger the country’s deterrent capability or air defense even in the slightest. We have made many refutations many times, I answer you categorically even today”, said Pavlos Marinakis characteristically in the context of informing the political editors.
