Greece v. Turkey

[Legbreaker]

I suggest that Greece attacking the NATO convoy was more symbolic than anything, an effort to show the world they were SERIOUS about their declaration. It's quite likely they were expecting their prior allies to back down and try something else rather than risk casualties in a conflict they didn't really have a lot of skin in.
It was a gamble which if successful would have paid huge dividends. Unfortunately the result was somewhat different to the expectations/hopes.

[Raellus]

Greece is going on a bit of a defense spending spree. I reckon Turkey will respond in kind.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ns-with-turkey

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[micromachine]

The sad thing about the spending spree(s) is that it is being done by administrations that are hovering on the brink of being insolvent. Both have purchased on both sides of the iron curtain, and will continue to do so as long as credit and production offsets are offered.
Would be very interesting to see what equipment is in the arsenal or each country by 2030, and how much of it they actually produce themselves "in house".

[Legbreaker]

How? The country's been basically bankrupt for decades, only surviving because they scammed the EU into letting them join and then receiving massive bail outs. It's one of the reasons (amongst many) for Brexit.

[pansarskott]

Greece has modern tanks as well. Leopard 2A6 HEL

1.7 billion Euros worth of brand new tanks in 2006-2009, and an additional 183 Leopard 2A4s and 150 Leopard 1A5 (for some sum I haven't checked)

National debt in Greece in 2006 was about 215 billion Euros - 103% of GDP. But Germany wanted to sell, and we won't hear any complaints from them about Greece's military spending.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by pansarskott

But Germany wanted to sell, and we won't hear any complaints from them about Greece's military spending.

Given much of the cash to pay for it came from Germany in the first place.....

[swaghauler]

Isn't Greece "playing catch up" with Turkey? Didn't Turkey recently launch an Assault Carrier (which they planned on flying F35Bs off of) and a bunch of new Frigates? She also bought the S400 and a bunch of new tanks too, IF I remember correctly.

I think Greece is just trying to match Turkey's recent spending spree.

...as for Turkey's behavior...

She's been very aggressive in supporting factions that OPPOSE French interests in Libya. She even intercepted a French Frigate that was conducting a UN-mandated inspection of a Turkish freighter for weapons and other contraband that was headed to Libya. She has also "bullied" Greek and Italian vessels conducting inspections.

Turkey has actually ATTACKED [when attacking Kurds] US service personnel who were assisting the Kurds in fighting in Syria.

She has been extremely aggressive in the area around Crete with not only Greece but also Israel and Egypt.

I can see a conflict slowly brewing here.