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Israeli Ambassador to Greece Pninat Yanai has hailed the new Greece Israel defence agreement for the \u201cAchilles Shield\u201d air defence system as a landmark deal that will deepen strategic, technological and industrial cooperation between the two countries.<\/p>\n
The agreement was signed on Monday at Israel\u2019s Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv, paving the way for the creation of a multi layered air defence network designed to protect Greece from a range of aerial threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an opportunity to build, develop and defend together,\u201d Yanai said in a statement shared on Facebook on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
She said Israeli defence technologies, which she described as among the most advanced in the world and proven in real combat conditions, would contribute to protecting Greek airspace and Greek citizens.<\/p>\n
The agreement also places a strong emphasis on domestic Greek industry. Approximately 25% of production is expected to take place in Greece, bringing Israeli and Greek defence companies closer through technology and knowledge sharing, as well as joint development and production.<\/p>\n
According to Yanai, the cooperation is also expected to create new jobs in Greece.<\/p>\n
Ioannis Bouras, head of Greece\u2019s General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments, described the agreement as more than a financial or defence commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not simply a commitment. It is an opportunity,\u201d Bouras said during the signing ceremony.<\/p>\n
He added that cooperation between Greek and Israeli engineers would transform the project into a shared responsibility between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Israeli and Greek engineers work hand in hand to protect our countries, this cooperation becomes a shared responsibility and a clear statement that two nations with shared values, interests and challenges will face future threats together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bouras also drew a connection between the intellectual heritage of ancient Greece and Israel\u2019s modern technological capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also a meeting of historical wisdom with modern innovation,\u201d he said, noting that the foundations laid by figures such as Aristotle, Archimedes and Democritus now meet Israeli technological expertise in the development of future defence capabilities.<\/p>\n
Yanai said the meeting concluded with a message reflecting the growing relationship between Greece and Israel: \u201cWe started as partners and ended as friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
She congratulated the defence industries of both countries, highlighting the advanced capabilities, jobs and industrial cooperation expected to emerge from the project.<\/p>\n
The agreement marks another significant step in the deepening strategic partnership between Greece and Israel, with defence cooperation increasingly expanding into technology, industrial production and joint development.<\/p>\n