Greece plans to deploy Israeli missile systems on Aegean islands, violating int’l law

Greece is reportedly planning to deploy advanced missile systems on Aegean islands, citing “tensions with Türkiye” over changing balance in the region.

The Greek daily Ta Nea reported that the government aims to bolster its defense capabilities with new Israeli-made missile systems, raising concerns about Athen’s compliance with international agreements.

Greece’s missile deployment on militarized islands

According to Ta Nea, Greece plans to station 17 Spike NLOS missile systems, which they will buy from Israel with a range of 32 kilometers on the Aegean islands by the summer of 2025.

Negotiations are also underway for the acquisition of Israeli PULS missile systems, capable of striking targets up to 300 kilometers away. If purchased, 38 PULS systems will reportedly be stationed across the islands to create a so-called “missile wall” in the region.

The report further indicated that Greece aims to enhance its arsenal with additional missile systems, including 180-200 kilometer range models, alongside the existing French-made Exocet missiles.

This strategy is seen as a response to Türkiye’s growing naval power.

Strategic shift in defense policy

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias previously highlighted plans for a missile-focused defense strategy during a speech at the Greek Naval Academy in December.

Citing the high costs of large naval vessels, Dendias emphasized the need for a more cost-effective approach to regional security, favoring missile systems over conventional warships.

The Spike NLOS missiles, with a projected cost of €370 million ($379.4 million), and the potential PULS systems, estimated at €500 million ($512.7 million), reflect Greece’s commitment to modernizing its defense capabilities.

Additionally, Greece is exploring the acquisition of drone countermeasures and a missile defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, which could cost up to €2 billion ($2.05 billion).

Long-standing disputes over Aegean militarization

Greece’s militarization of the eastern Aegean islands has long been a contentious issue between Athens and Ankara. Türkiye argues that the militarization violates the Lausanne (1923) and Paris (1947) treaties, which require the islands to maintain a demilitarized status.

Despite these objections, Greece has systematically fortified the islands since the mid-20th century, citing security concerns.

Türkiye continues to raise the issue in international forums, emphasizing the importance of adhering to treaty obligations.

Naval balance in the Aegean

The Ta Nea report also detailed the current naval power balance between the two nations. Türkiye’s fleet includes 31 warships, 17 frigates, 10 corvettes, 13 submarines, and one landing helicopter dock ship, compared to Greece’s 13 frigates and 10 submarines.

Greece expects to receive three Belharra-class frigates by 2027.

However, financial constraints have pushed Athens to prioritize missile systems over expanding its fleet. This approach aims to strengthen island defenses while allowing existing naval assets to focus on broader strategic operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Athens continues to violate the non-military status of the Eastern Aegean islands in violation of international treaties to which it is a party, while Ankara has said the militarization of the islands poses a serious threat to Türkiye‘s security.

Not denying the militarization of the islands in question, Greece argues that its policy is a “right of self-defense.”

Which Eastern Aegean islands are in question?

The islands of Thasos, Samotraki, Lemnos, Aya Evstratios, Lesvos, Chios, Psara, Samos, and Ikaria remain under Greek sovereignty on condition that they remain in non-military status under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.

The islands that were handed over to Greek sovereignty by Italy provided that they were demilitarized under the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty are called the Dodecanese Islands, comprising the islands of Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Nisyros, Astypalaia, Tilos, Chalki, Karpathos, Kassos, Symi, Rhodes and Kastellorizo.

The proximity of Eastern Aegean islands to the mainland of Türkiye is an attention grabber, and the most evident case is the island of Kastellorizo, which is only 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) to the Turkish mainland, whereas its distance to the Greek mainland is 582 km (361 miles).

The island of Kastellorizo is not the only one that could be observed from geographical proximity from Türkiye’s Aegean coasts, as the same goes for some larger islands such as Lesvos, Samos, and Chios at varying distances of up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Turkish mainland.

The fact that these islands are at an arm’s length from the Turkish mainland is the main reason behind the adoption of the non-military status in the first place, as they could pose a potential threat to Türkiye’s security.

Does Greece have right to militarize islands under int’l agreements?

The islands of Thasos, Aya Evstratios, Psara, Samotraki, and Lemnos were given to Greece through the decision of the “Six States” in 1914, and it was decided that these countries would give Türkiye a guarantee regarding demilitarization and non-military status of the islands. Under Article 12 of the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1914 Decision of Six Powers was confirmed.

The Treaty of Lausanne also noted that the Greek government would not be able to establish a naval base or fortification on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria.

The Paris Peace Treaty stressed the non-military status of the Dodecanese Islands, also noting that no military base or fortification could be built on the islands, no military exercises could be performed, and no aerial, naval, or ground vehicles could be deployed there.

Both agreements permit the deployment of only a limited number of law enforcement units on the islands.

So, under the explicit provisions of the treaties to which Athens is a party, Greece does not possess the right to arm the islands in the Eastern Aegean.

What sort of military activities does Greece hold on islands?

Despite Türkiye’s opposition and the obligations arising from international agreements, Greece has been militarizing the islands since 1960, violating their non-military status.

Although Greece accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in 1993, it made a reservation about “national security interests” to prevent the issue of Eastern Aegean islands from being referred to the International Court of Justice.

The islands of Samotraki, Lemnos, Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Psara, and Ikaria are supposed to be demilitarized today, while Greece violates the agreements with deployed brigades and divisions, as well as cannons and rifles.

Greece adopts the same attitude in the islands of Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Tilos, Karpathos, Symi, Rhodes and Kastellorizo and violates the law in nine of the 14 Dodecanese Islands.

In total, Athens has now militarized 16 of the Eastern Aegean islands.

What steps has Türkiye taken in response to unlawful Greek acts?

Türkiye has rejected the militarization of the islands by Greece since the very beginning, protesting the Greek policy of violating the non-military status of the islands since the 1960s.

Ankara has issued protests through diplomatic channels and requested the violations to stop. The issue came to the UN and NATO agenda in the 1970s.