Greece to withdraw Patriot Missile Systems from Dimetoka and Kerpe İsland amid regional security review

The Greek government has decided to withdraw Patriot air defense missile batteries previously deployed in the border town of Didymoteicho and on the island of Kerpe following recent security assessments linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

According to reports by ERT, the decision was taken during a meeting of Greece’s National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Patriot missile systems had been deployed earlier this year to the Evros region near the Turkish border and to the southeastern Aegean island of Karpathos after heightened regional instability following U.S. and Israeli military actions targeting Iran.

The meeting also approved the transfer of 13 M113 tracked armored personnel carriers to Lebanon as part of Greece’s regional defense and support initiatives.

In addition, Greek officials reportedly endorsed plans to acquire Italian-built Bergamini-class frigates and proceed with the modernization of existing MEKO-class frigates, signaling Athens’ continued focus on strengthening naval capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis briefed the council on recent developments in the Middle East and also discussed concerns regarding the possibility of new Turkish legislation connected to the “Blue Homeland” maritime doctrine, an issue that remains sensitive in Greek-Turkish relations.

The Patriot systems had originally been deployed in March to Didymoteicho in the Meriç region and to Kerpe Island in the Aegean Sea as part of Greece’s precautionary defense measures.

The developments reflect the evolving security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean, where regional military positioning, naval modernization, and geopolitical tensions continue to shape defense strategies among NATO allies.