Greek Patriot battery to stay in Saudi Arabia for another month as KYSEA clears eight programmes

Greece will extend the deployment of its Patriot air-defence battery in Saudi Arabia by one month after a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) on 1 October. Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said the extra time would allow Greece and Saudi Arabia to address questions about replenishing missiles and upgrading the systems.

“We will give a one-month extension. I think the issue with Saudi Arabia will be resolved,” Dendias said after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Greek force, known as ELDYSA, operates in the Yanbu area, which hosts important energy infrastructure. The extension leaves a further decision on the deployment for a later review.

The Greek battery has been involved in air-defence engagements during the regional conflict, including an engagement on 24 September. Its mission is tied to the protection of Saudi infrastructure and to Greece’s wider security cooperation with Riyadh. The one-month decision does not itself announce a permanent extension.

Eight defence programmes

KYSEA also approved eight armed-forces programmes, most involving equipment already in service. Two concern the army’s Modern Fighter initiative: individual protective equipment and new communications gear. A separate programme covers broadband communications equipment.

For the Hellenic Air Force, the approvals cover follow-on support for C-130 transports, support and upgrading of the HERON-1 uncrewed aircraft system, and technical support and upgrading for eight C-27J Spartan transports. The naval items concern maintenance and restoration work on Type 214 submarines, and maintenance and repair of Type 209 submarines. No contract values, contractors or implementation dates were announced in the account of the decisions.

Eastern Mediterranean and UN agenda

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis briefed the council on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Ukraine, according to the Greek government’s statement. He also presented the agenda for Greece’s presidency of the UN Security Council, which began on 1 October. The government said the council discussed the deployment of national forces under Greece’s international commitments.