Greece is set to formally submit its application to the new EU funding tool SAFE (Support to Ammunition and Defense Equipment Facilities) as part of the broader ReARM Europe initiative, aiming to secure €1.2 billion in low-interest loans for defense and industrial purposes.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s deterrent capabilities and bolstering the national defense industry. The application will be officially submitted on Tuesday.
As part of this strategic move, Greece’s Long-Term Defense Armament Program will be expanded to €30 billion for the period 2025–2036, up from the previously announced €28.8 billion.
SAFE is a new EU financing instrument designed to support the defense needs of member states. Greece’s participation follows the activation of a national “escape clause” on defense spending and reflects a broader EU objective of achieving strategic autonomy in security and defense.
“The defense and security of our country is a national responsibility,” Mitsotakis said. “This government continues to strengthen the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces with seriousness, strategic planning and responsibility.”
The prime minister underscored Greece’s active role in shaping European security policy and highlighted the importance of using EU mechanisms to advance national goals. He reiterated the country’s support for creating a European Investment Fund to back critical strategic projects, including a unified missile defense system.
Mitsotakis stated that the SAFE funding will offer new opportunities for investment, production partnerships, and job creation, while increasing domestic added value and national autonomy. He called this move just the beginning of a more ambitious European defense agenda.
“Investing in national defense means investing in the security, stability, and future of our country,” he said, “and in a strategically autonomous and geopolitically mature Europe.”
