Greece to protest Italy’s approval of Baykar’s Piaggio Aerospace acquisition

The Greek government is preparing to protest Italy’s decision to allow Turkish defense company Baykar to acquire Piaggio Aerospace, citing security concerns and potential violations of European Union regulations, according to Greek media reports.

The protest follows a similar move by Athens against France regarding the potential sale of Meteor air-to-air missiles to Türkiye.

Greek concerns over Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace

Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that the Greek government is planning to file a protest with Italy, arguing that the sale of Piaggio Aerospace to Baykar disregards the EU’s Regulation 2019/452, which has been in effect since Oct. 11, 2020.

The regulation requires EU member states to notify all other members when a state-controlled company is being sold to an investor from a third country.

The newspaper highlighted Article 7 of the regulation, which states that “any EU member state or the Commission may request information from the selling or acquiring country if a foreign investment is deemed a potential risk to security or public order.”

Athens sees Baykar’s acquisition of Piaggio Aerospace as a security risk, given that Baykar is Türkiye’s leading defense technology company, known for developing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

France and sale of meteor missiles to Türkiye

The issue of arms sales to Türkiye was also raised last week during a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels, where Mitsotakis sought clarification on whether France was moving forward with the sale of Meteor missiles to Türkiye.

Macron reportedly confirmed that discussions were taking place at the initiative of the U.K., which is a key partner in the multinational MBDA consortium that manufactures the Meteor missile. However, the French president assured Mitsotakis that an agreement between France and Türkiye was not yet finalized.

Türkiye’s plans to strengthen its air force

Türkiye has been in discussions with the U.K. and other European nations to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, including reportedly 20 second-hand aircraft from Britain and 20 newly built jets.

However, securing Meteor missiles is a critical component of the deal, as the missiles would significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of the Typhoon fleet.

Greece’s diplomatic moves to block sale to Türkiye

Greece has been actively working to block the sale of Meteor missiles to Türkiye.

On Jan. 29, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias summoned the French ambassador to Athens, Laurence Auer, to express Greece’s opposition to the potential deal.

Balance of power excuse of Greece

If Türkiye secures the Meteor missiles alongside the Eurofighter Typhoons, it could allegedly alter the military balance in the region. Although this phrase is often used by countries, “changing the balance” does not depend on a single weapon system. Meanwhile, Athens is acquiring 5th-generation F-35s, which are capable of conducting deep-strike missions.

Deep strike means “armed operations undertaken to neutralize or destroy targets that may be fixed or mobile, personnel or facilities, military or civil beyond the reach of conventional military units”. A stealth aircraft with a low radar signature like the F-35 designed to perform such missions.

For the last few years, Greece has been lobbying in the U.S. in protest against planned or actual arms sales to Türkiye, using the “balance of power” in the region as an excuse. In the meantime, Athens has signed many arms deals which are usually not defensive but designed to attack systems.

Each Eurofighter can carry up to six Meteor missiles, compared to the four carried Rafale jets. Greek Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets are already equipped with meteor missiles.

The Greek government is also expected to discuss the matter further with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as an Italy-Greece intergovernmental summit was scheduled for Feb. 19 but has been temporarily postponed.

Meanwhile, Mitsotakis is set to meet Macron again at an artificial intelligence summit in Paris, where the leaders will also review Greece-France relations. The issue of Meteor missile sales is expected to be revisited during this meeting.