Greece may extend its Patriot air defence mission in Saudi Arabia to 2026, securing ARAMCO sites as Athens and Riyadh deepen defence and economic ties.
Greece is weighing whether to extend its Patriot missile deployment in Saudi Arabia for another year, following a formal request from Riyadh, according to Kathimerini. The mission, first launched in 2021, protects key ARAMCO facilities and is considered part of the integrated air and missile defence concept that underpins Saudi security.
The Greek contingent, known as the Hellenic Force Saudi Arabia (ELDYSA), was deployed after years of technical and diplomatic negotiations, culminating in a 2021 memorandum of cooperation. The unit, operating from Tanagra Air Base, arrived in the kingdom in September that year. If approved, the extension would see the battery remain in place until November 2026.
Athens and Riyadh have developed a close defence partnership. Frequent visits between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underline the political importance of the relationship, while joint air force exercises and the ongoing training of ELDYSA personnel highlight its operational depth. The deployment is viewed as crucial given Saudi Arabia’s continued exposure to Houthi missile and drone strikes.
Beyond defence, the two countries have sought to strengthen ties through strategic projects such as an undersea fibre-optic cable linking Saudi Arabia with Western Europe, running via Greek, Greek Cypriot, and Israeli waters. Diplomatic cooperation extends to regional crises, from the Gaza conflict to the Red Sea, where Greece has contributed a navy frigate to an EU mission safeguarding shipping lanes.
The mission also has a broader geopolitical dimension. Saudi Arabia is among the few regional actors able to influence the transitional government in Syria led by Ahmed al-Sarraa, who remains closely aligned with Ankara. For Athens, sustaining the partnership is therefore vital: not only for the protection of Christians and other vulnerable groups in Syria, but also as a counterbalance to Turkiye’s ongoing efforts to negotiate an EEZ agreement with Damascus that could undermine Greek Cypriot claims.
If the renewal is confirmed, Greece’s Patriot presence will continue to serve as both a shield for Saudi infrastructure and a visible marker of the deepening strategic alignment between Athens and Riyadh.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
