Greece’s Communist Party (KKE) has sharply condemned the government’s new air-defence agreement with Israel, arguing that the so-called “Achilles Shield” will deepen Greece’s military involvement in regional conflicts while imposing a multibillion-euro burden on the public.
According to the Greek news outlet 902.gr, agreements signed on Monday between Athens and Israel cover the acquisition of several Israeli-made air-defence systems at a total cost exceeding €3 billion. The package reportedly includes Rafael’s David’s Sling and Spyder systems, as well as the Barak MX system produced by Israel Aerospace Industries. A separate €26 million agreement is also said to cover the Drone Dome counter-unmanned aerial vehicle system.
The deal forms part of Greece’s broader “Agenda 2030” defence modernisation programme and has been promoted by the government as a multilayered architecture designed to strengthen protection of Greek territory.
KKE, however, rejected that description. In a statement cited by 902.gr, the party said the agreement represents “another dangerous decision” by the New Democracy government to accelerate military preparations and deepen Greece’s involvement in US and NATO strategic planning in the region.
The party also argued that closer military cooperation with Israel could intensify existing regional rivalries, particularly amid tensions involving Turkey, Israel and Greece in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
902.gr itself adopted an even more confrontational tone, questioning both the political rationale and the effectiveness of the systems. The outlet argued that Israeli and US air-defence platforms have shown limitations during recent Iranian missile and drone attacks, while highlighting concerns over interceptor stockpiles and the growing financial cost of missile defence.
Beyond the technical debate, the outlet framed the programme as part of a wider militarisation policy serving the interests of Greece’s economic and strategic elites. It argued that public money is being redirected toward defence procurement while social needs remain constrained by fiscal limits.
KKE further criticised opposition parties for broadly supporting Greece’s strategic alliances and defence agreements. It called on the public to oppose deeper Greek participation in what it described as imperialist wars and military planning.
The agreements signal a significant further step in the expanding Greece–Israel defence relationship, but they are also likely to fuel domestic debate over military spending, regional strategy and Athens’ increasingly active security role in the Eastern Mediterranean. The controversy is set to extend beyond procurement into Greece’s broader foreign-policy orientation and priorities.