Why Greece said no to Patriot & S-300 in Kiev, but “yes” to CROTALE array in Paris

The German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, came out to name Greece and Spain for their refusal to give Ukraine missile defense systems, even conveying Berlin’s disappointment and wonder about their attitude. In his full interview with SKAI on Thursday, however, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was clear.

“We cannot deploy weapons systems that are critical to our deterrence capability. We asked and explained why we can’t do it. They are critical systems for the protection of Greek airspace and will not be granted to Ukraine”the Prime Minister clarified in response to the scribes who rushed to accuse the government of the opposite.

Politico refers to Athens’ refusal to give Ukrainian President Zelensky a Patriot array or the Russian S-300s it has in Crete, citing reasons of national security and defense, given that it always faces a danger from the east, i.e. Turkey.

Despite Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for new military aid from the West, including air defense systems to be able to protect Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, as well as the country’s critical infrastructure, from Russian attacks, help will not come either from Spain, nor from Greece, is emphasized in the relevant publication, which also mentions the cooperation, through video conference, that 50 countries will have in the framework of the talks led by the USA (the so-called Ukraine Defense Contact Group / UDCG), to coordinate further military assistance to Ukraine.

At the forefront of the push to give military aid to Kiev from the stockpile of other countries is Germany, which has already committed to sending three of its own Patriot arrays.

Further intensifying this pressure, the German minister, Boris Pistorius, emphasized that he now “expects the countries in question to respond”, stating at the same time that he cannot understand the refusal of Greece and Spain.

However, if in the case of Spain the frustration of the German Defense Minister could – perhaps – have been justified, it is questionable how he can put Greece among the “unwilling” to strengthen the Ukrainian Defense…

“Greece is not going to send Ukraine either S-300 or Patriot. We were asked and explained why we can’t do it. Let me explain it in a little more detail: Greece has supported Ukraine in various ways, with defense material. But we have said from the first moment that we cannot dispose of weapons systems which are critical to our deterrent capability. We have surplus material with which we can support Ukraine, we have done so and I think it is the right choice. And, to the extent that we can find such material, we will continue to do so. However, the air defense systems to which you referred are critical systems for the protection of Greek airspace and will not be granted to Ukraine.” clarified in all directions the Prime Minister answering the relevant question posed to him by Sia Kosioni in his interview with SKAI.

The same answer was given on Friday by the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, answering questions from journalists after the meeting he had with the governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikosta, at the service building of the Region.

“The government representative was appointed, after being informed by the Ministry of National Defence. Patriots will not be transferred, S-300s will not be transferred, the country will not be deprived of what is necessary for its Defense and the protection of the core interests of our homeland”repeated Mr. Dendias.

Contrary to the Patriot and the S-300, however, Athens – through the mouth of the Minister of National Defense himself – says “yes” to the request of the French government for the transfer of an array of short-range CROTALE mobile anti-aircraft systems of the Air Force, for the period of the Paris Olympics.

After all, this is also “dictated” by the country’s obligations within the framework of the signed defense cooperation agreement between Greece and France.

“If France puts in writing the verbal request to provide Crotale, for the protection of Paris, for the Olympic Games, our country will consent. Alas if we, the country that has signed a defense agreement with the French Republic, does not help in the Olympic Games that represent everything Greek in this world”observed Nikos Dendias, given that Greece has the capacity for such systems.

The French-made CROTALE system joined the Air Force in 2003. The system is mounted on a towed vehicle and has a 20 km range search RADAR, a 20 km range interception RADAR/FLIR and a launcher with two carriers of four missiles each. with a maximum engagement height of 6km – ideal i.e. for the purpose for the purpose the French need it at the Paris Games.