Greece to loan Patriot missile units to Saudi Arabia
Athens is lending a hand to help defend Saudi Arabia amid continued barrages as the United States moves its assets elsewhere.
Greece will lend a US-made Patriot missile air defense system to Saudi Arabia to help protect energy infrastructure, according to an agreement signed by the two countries in Riyadh this week.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos inked the deal with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in the kingdom’s capital on Tuesday, calling it a “big step forward for our country regarding cooperation with the Gulf countries” and “a contribution to the wider security of the energy sources for the West.”
Saudi Arabia has suffered repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran-linked groups in the region over Riyadh’s support for the Yemeni government against Houthi rebels in the country’s civil war.
The Houthis targeted Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura storage yard and an Aramco residential facility last month, though minimal damage was reported. The attacks briefly sent the price of Brent crude above $70 per barrel.
