Europe’s Defense Strategy: €800B Investment and Greece at the Heart of Technological Innovation

Europe is entering a new era of strategic autonomy, investing over €800 billion in defense spending by 2030. The ReArm Europe plan serves as the backbone of this effort, aiming to create a unified, technologically advanced European defense market that reduces reliance on external suppliers.

The EU combines funding mechanisms such as SAFE (€150B), the European Defence Fund (EDF, €7.3B 2021–2027), and EDIP (€1.5B) to drive innovation, research, and development of advanced military technologies. The “design authority” mechanism ensures that technology remains European, strengthening both national and collective autonomy.

The geopolitical dimension is clear: the EU seeks to build a strategic shield against rising threats, strengthen its position in global technology supply chains, and gain a powerful voice in alliances such as NATO and the wider defense landscape.

In Greece, this strategy finds immediate application through the Hellenic Defense Investment Program 2025–2036, with a budget of €25.8B for 68 strategic programs. The goal is to involve up to 25% domestic industry participation, focusing on dual-use technologies such as autonomous vehicles, UAVs, electronic warfare, lasers, AI, and secure satellite communications.

Greece leverages European funds via the EDF, Hellenic Development Programs, and strategic investments, enhancing both national security and its regional strategic position. Greek companies’ participation in 126 EDF projects between 2021 and 2024 highlights growing capabilities and the ability to export innovation at the European level.

With the upcoming 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, Europe’s defense spending is expected to increase fivefold, creating new opportunities for Greece to establish itself as a hub of technological and defense innovation in Southeast Europe. Greek participation in the EU’s collective defense strategy strengthens not only national power but also geopolitical influence regionally and globally.

The message is clear: strengthening European and Greek defense is not merely a technological or economic objective—it is a strategic choice that will define Europe’s and Greece’s position on the global geopolitical map for decades to come.

Source: pagenews.gr