Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish counterpart Donald Tusk have requested EU funding for a common air defense shield in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They propose discussing this at the European Council session on June 27-28.
The President of the European Commission supports the idea, emphasizing joint projects for EU defense. The proposed shield aims to protect Europe from enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones, and would enhance the European defense industry and cooperation. Greece, Poland, and the US were the top NATO spenders relative to GDP in 2023. Greece also backs other joint defense initiatives, such as European bonds for defense spending. Mitsotakis discussed the shield, likened to Israel’s Iron Dome, with Tusk in April.
