06 Feb 2020; MEMO: The Greek government announced on Tuesday that it will send Patriot defence missiles to Saudi Arabia to help it protect its oil installations.
Greek government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said that Athens will deploy the missiles at Saudi Arabia’s expense to protect the kingdom’s energy sector, installations and infrastructure.
Petsas explained that 130 Greek personnel will accompany the deployment of the defence system, which he said “does not constitute a threat to other countries in the region”.
“The deployment contributes to energy security, promotes our country as a factor of regional stability and strengthens our ties to Saudi Arabia,” he explained.
Petsas said talks to deploy the defence system began in October, as part of a joint initiative with the United States, France and Britain.
The Greek opposition parties condemned the move, saying it was a dangerous “adventure”.
Earlier in January, European Parliament member Dimitris Papadimoulis wrote on Twitter that the decision “would be a Greek military presence outside the Mediterranean for the first time in decades.”
