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Greece is resisting pressure from European Union partners to allow Türkiye's participation in a massive 150 billion euro defense financing program, according to a report published Friday in the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is expected to press the Greek government to drop its veto during a visit to Athens on Monday, the newspaper reported. The push comes as a Nov. 30 deadline approaches for countries to submit credit applications under the Security and Defence Industrial Programme (SAFE).
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reiterated that Greece will not approve Türkiye's participation, citing ongoing disputes in the Aegean Sea and Türkiye's "casus belli" resolution, according to Kathimerini.
Only France and the Republic of Cyprus support Greece's objection, the newspaper reported. Other EU members back Türkiye's inclusion, pointing to Ankara's position as NATO's second-largest military and its robust defense industry. Scandinavian countries are also favorable toward Türkiye's participation, according to the report.
The SAFE initiative, part of the EU's defense goals for 2030, took effect on May 29. The program emerged from perceived threats from Russia, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and pressure from the Trump administration in the United States to increase defense spending.
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Under the program, EU countries, Ukraine, and European Economic Area members Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland can access up to 150 billion euros in credit to finance defense industry investments. These nations can also make joint purchases from each other's industries.
Currently, EU candidate countries like Türkiye can participate in joint procurement, but 65 percent of the total value of components in any manufactured defense product must come from within Europe — defined as EU member states, Ukraine, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
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