Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid heightened regional security concerns and continuing threats to the kingdom’s critical infrastructure.
The visit comes as Saudi Arabia faces security challenges linked to attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, which have targeted Saudi territory and energy installations with missiles and drones. The attacks have raised concerns about regional stability and the security of shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a strategically important corridor for international trade.
Dendias said he had been received by the Saudi crown prince in Riyadh, adding that he conveyed greetings from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“Our strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, regional security and the challenges undermining stability in the wider region were at the center of our discussion,” Dendias said.
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The talks highlighted the importance Athens attaches to its strategic relationship with Riyadh, including defense cooperation amid a volatile regional environment.
Dendias also met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The two discussed ways to deepen military cooperation and strengthen ties in defense innovation.
“We exchanged views on further strengthening our strategic cooperation at the level of the armed forces and examined issues of mutual interest concerning defense innovation,” Dendias said.
The Saudi crown prince thanked Greece for its military presence and the contribution of its Patriot battery to the kingdom’s air defenses, the minister added. Dendias said his Saudi counterpart had also reiterated his appreciation for the deployment.
Greece has maintained a US-made Patriot air-defense and anti-missile system in Yanbu, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, since 2021. The Greek unit forms part of an effort to protect Saudi territory and critical infrastructure against aerial threats.
The deployment has become a subject of renewed political and strategic debate in Athens. On Oct. 1, the government agreed to extend the mission by one month as it sought to resolve outstanding issues with Riyadh over its continuation.
The decision followed the signing of a mutual defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, prompting questions in Greece over implications for Athens’ regional partnerships.