Greece will proceed with plans to add a fourth French-made frigate to its navy as part of a military buildup, the defense minister said on Wednesday, September 17. The new Belharra-class frigate has "increased capabilities," Nikos Dendias said after a meeting of Greece's top security council, and legislation on its acquisition will be submitted to parliament later Wednesday.

Greece has announced plans to spend €25 billion through 2036 in what conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called the "most drastic" defense overhaul in its modern history.

The drive, which includes a new anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-drone defensive dome called "Achilles's Shield," is aimed at addressing rapidly changing geopolitical challenges and fraying transatlantic ties, Mitsotakis told parliament in April.

Greece has traditionally invested at least 2% of gross domestic product on its defence – NATO's longstanding spending target until recently – owing to decades of tension with regional rival Turkey. It has already ordered 24 Rafale fighter jets and three Belharra-class defense and intervention frigates (FDI) from France for a total of more than €5.5 billion.