Greece to send Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia
Greece will send some of its Patriot defense
missiles to Saudi Arabia under a program involving the US, Britain and France,
the government spokesman said Tuesday.
Athens will deploy the missiles at Saudi cost “to
protect critical energy infrastructure,” government spokesman Stelios Petsas
told reporters.
“The deployment contributes to energy security,
promotes our country as a factor of regional stability and strengthens our ties
to Saudi Arabia,” Petsas said, adding that talks on the move began in October.
He did not give a date for the deployment.
The US, Britain and France are part of the same
initiative and Italy is likely to join, the spokesman said.
The announcement came as Greek Prime Minister
Kyriakos Mitsotakis was on a Middle East tour for investment talks with the
governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He visited Riyadh on
Monday and is in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
“As a defensive system, this constitutes no threat
to other countries in the area,” Petsas said.
Earlier this week Petsas said that “around 130
personnel” would accompany the missiles.
