France and Greece will extend their security agreement for another five years — Reuters
Next week, Paris and Athens will officially renew their bilateral security agreement, extending it for another five years.
This was reported by Reuters.
This move comes amid a sharp deterioration in the situation in the region, particularly due to the ongoing war in Iran, which is forcing European allies to strengthen collective deterrence measures.
The official renewal of the pact is scheduled for April 24–25, 2026, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the Greek capital.
It is expected that the leaders will not only extend the agreement but also add a clause providing for its automatic renewal in the future.
“I was told that the new agreement not only strengthens existing defense ties but also includes expanded cooperation in the areas of cybersecurity, space security, and unmanned platforms,” sources close to the negotiations report.
As before, the document will include a clause on mutual assistance in the event of an armed attack on one of the parties.
In addition to military cooperation, Emmanuel Macron and the Greek government will discuss critical maritime security issues, particularly the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Due to active hostilities and threats to shipping, this transport corridor has become an area of particular concern for the energy security of all of Europe.
Greece currently leads the European Union’s naval mission “Aspides,” which is responsible for protecting civilian ships in the Red Sea.
Despite this, Athens has already stated its refusal to participate in any direct military operations in the Strait of Hormuz itself, in order to avoid being directly drawn into the conflict.
The initial agreement, signed in 2021, laid the foundation for Greece’s large-scale rearmament with French equipment.
At that time, Athens ordered three modern Belharra-class frigates and 24 Rafale fighter jets, which allowed the country to significantly strengthen its capabilities in the Mediterranean basin.
The French Republic has officially confirmed its intention to join the Extended Partial Agreement on the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal.
France plans to increase defense spending by €36 billion by 2030
