"The time has come to strengthen our armed forces," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a speech in Thessaloniki on Saturday.
This declaration marks a new stage in the standoff between Turkey and Greece, with Paris in the front row.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a "major" weapons purchase program, including 18 French Rafale fighter jets.
In addition to this French flagship, Greece will procure four frigates and four naval helicopters, recruit 15,000 additional soldiers and further finance its defense industry.
The program also foresees the renovation of four frigates, and the acquisition of anti-tank weapons, torpedoes and missiles.
"This is an important program which will form a national shield," the Prime Minister said.
He assured that this program should allow the creation of thousands of jobs.
More details on the cost of the program and the origin of the armaments are expected to be announced at a press conference on Sunday.
"Strengthen the link between the Greek and French armed forces"
The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, in a press release welcomed the choice of Greece to acquire 18 Rafale: "This choice (...) strengthens the link between the Greek and French armed forces, and will allow 'intensify their operational and strategic cooperation ".
"France is continuing its action in favor of a stronger, more autonomous and united defense Europe, in accordance with the strategic orientations" of President Emmanuel Macron, the statement added.
For his part, the CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, said he was delighted "by this announcement which reinforces the exceptional relationship that we have had with Greece for nearly half a century".
Military maneuvers in the Mediterranean
This order comes as Turkey and Greece, both members of NATO, are torn apart over hydrocarbon deposits in the eastern Mediterranean, in an area that Athens considers to be under its sovereignty.
Kyriakos Mitostakis on Saturday accused Turkey of "threatening" Europe's eastern borders and "endangering" regional security.
"We need a dialogue, but not when it takes place with the gun to the temple", he added, in a column published by three European dailies.
Tensions between the two countries escalated when Turkey on August 10 sent a seismic survey vessel accompanied by warships into waters claimed by Greece, prompting Athens to launch naval maneuvers , with the support of France in particular.
"Mr. Macron, you are not done having trouble with me"
France has clearly shown its support for Greece by deploying warships and fighter jets in the region, an initiative strongly denounced by the Turkish president.
"Mr. Macron, you have not finished having trouble with me," said the Turkish president, attacking for the first time directly and by name his counterpart.
"Do not seek quarrel with the Turkish people, do not seek quarrel with Turkey," Turkish President Recep Erdogan continued on Saturday in a televised speech in Istanbul.
Mr. Erdogan also accused him of "lacking historical knowledge" and considered that France "could not teach Turkey a lesson in humanity" because of its colonial past in Algeria and its role in the genocide. 1994 in Rwanda.
The French president, for his part, considered that the Turkish government "had today unacceptable behavior" and had to "clarify its intentions".
Emmanuel Macron and his six southern EU counterparts also urged Turkey on Thursday to end its policy of "confrontation" in the eastern Mediterranean and threatened it with European sanctions.
With AFP
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