Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended his country’s high military expenditures on Friday, asserting that a robust national economy has allowed Athens to boost defense spending to over 3% of GDP while simultaneously cutting taxes and maintaining a primary surplus.
Speaking ahead of a European People’s Party (EPP) summit in Zagreb focused on Europe’s global role, Mr. Mitsotakis addressed how his government justifies significant arms outlays to voters.
He argued that security is the prerequisite for prosperity.
"Citizens understand that to be a prosperous and democratic country, we must be safe," Mr. Mitsotakis told reporters.
"They accept that these expenses are necessary."
Greece, which consistently exceeds NATO’s 2% spending target due to long-standing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, has recently ramped up its modernization program. Mr. Mitsotakis noted that while many European nations are only now increasing budgets, Greece has done so for years out of necessity.
"Thanks to the robustness of our economy, we have the ability to spend 3% of our GDP on defense… and continue to reduce taxes for the middle class," he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted a push to integrate the domestic industrial base into these procurements, framing the investment as a vital contribution to broader European strategic autonomy.