Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced today via social media that Greece will officially join the European Union’s SAFE (Security Action for Europe) mechanism, a new defense funding initiative.
“Our government continues to strengthen the deterrent power and operational capacity of the Armed Forces with planning, responsibility, and strategic vision,” Mitsotakis stated.
Greece “will participate in new EU funding mechanism SAFE”
The Greek PM confirmed that under the ReARM Europe framework, Greece will submit its application tomorrow to participate in SAFE, requesting low-interest loans of approximately $1.4 billion. The funds will support both national defense and the Greek defense industry.
“Defense and security are national priorities,” the Prime Minister emphasized, noting that Greece is taking full advantage of EU support tools—many of which it has actively helped to shape. This includes triggering the national escape clause for defense, enabling fiscal flexibility to fully implement the Long-Term Defense Procurement Program.
With participation in SAFE, Greece’s overall defense procurement budget for the 2025–2036 period will increase from around $33.8 billion to approximately $35.2 billion. The additional funding aims to strengthen domestic defense and technology sectors, attract investment, create jobs, and enhance the country’s strategic autonomy.
“Our government continues to strengthen the deterrent power,” Greece’s PM says
Mitsotakis also called for more ambitious action at the EU level, including the establishment of a European Investment Fund dedicated to strategic projects such as a unified European missile defense system.
“We invest in national defense because we invest in the security, stability, and future of our homeland—and in a strategically autonomous and geopolitically mature Europe,” he concluded.
SAFE and Rearm Europe: A dual strategy for strengthening EU defense
In response to growing security challenges, the EU is advancing a coordinated defense strategy built on two key pillars. ReARM Europe outlines the strategic goals to strengthen military capabilities, improve readiness, and deepen defense cooperation among member states.
Complementing this, the SAFE mechanism provides essential financial support for investments in critical technologies and defense industries. Together, SAFE and ReARM form an integrated approach that enables the EU to more effectively achieve its defense and security objectives.
What is ReARM Europe?
ReARM Europe is a strategic initiative by the European Union designed to enhance the defense capabilities of its member states by accelerating military modernization and deepening cooperation. Developed in response to rising security threats across the continent, the plan aims to improve the readiness, interoperability, and overall effectiveness of European armed forces.
The initiative encourages increased investment in defense equipment, streamlining of procurement processes, and collaboration on joint projects to bolster collective security. A key objective of ReARM Europe is to reduce reliance on non-European suppliers by fostering a more self-sufficient and competitive European defense industry.
By aligning funding with strategic planning, ReARM Europe operates alongside other programs such as the European Defence Fund and the SAFE mechanism, forming a comprehensive approach to building a more resilient, capable, and autonomous European defense ecosystem.
What is the SAFE mechanism, which Greece is joining?
SAFE (Security Action for Europe) is a fundamental financial instrument intended to support the broader ReARM Europe plan. While ReARM serves as the strategic framework, SAFE functions as a complementary financial tool that enables member states to accelerate Europe’s defense modernization and strategic autonomy. The mechanism allows member states access to a combination of grants, low-interest loans, and guarantees to invest in critical technologies and key sectors that underpin Europe’s defense and industrial base.
SAFE prioritizes areas such as defense innovation, digital infrastructure, supply chain resilience, and advanced manufacturing capabilities—all vital for reducing reliance on non-European suppliers and enhancing the continent’s technological sovereignty. By enabling the financing of high-priority projects, SAFE allows participating countries to meet both immediate operational needs and long-term capability goals. While ReARM coordinates strategic planning and joint procurement, SAFE ensures the sustainable funding necessary to drive innovation and industrial competitiveness.
Together, SAFE and ReARM Europe embody the European Union’s commitment to creating a strategically autonomous defense ecosystem—one capable of responding to today’s threats while also investing in tomorrow’s security and economic strength.
