Speaking at the European People’s Party (EPP) leaders’ meeting in Zagreb on 30–31 January 2026, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the necessity of steadily increasing defense expenditure as a prerequisite for national security. Upon arrival, he addressed questions regarding Greece’s defense spending—now exceeding 3% of GDP—and how the government justifies this level to citizens. Mitsotakis noted that Greece has ‘traditionally’ spent over 2% of GDP on defense, far surpassing most European countries at the time, citing the country’s geographic realities and national priorities. He stressed that current defense outlays now stand above 3% of GDP. Mitsotakis affirmed public understanding that prosperity and democracy depend on security, and underscored the need for significantly greater participation of the Greek defense industry in procurement programs. Linking defense funding to economic strength, he highlighted the government’s ability to sustain high defense spending while cutting taxes for the middle class and maintaining a primary budget surplus—calling it ‘the right balance.’ He also framed Greece’s defense investment as contributing to European strategic autonomy. During his Zagreb visit, Mitsotakis held bilateral talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, discussing shared bilateral and EU priorities—including enhancing European economic competitiveness ahead of the informal European Council on 12 February.
Mitsotakis in Croatia: Greece Steadily Increases Defense Spending for Security
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