Greece transfers S-300 missiles to Armenia amid defense collaboration

In a significant development for defense collaboration, Greece has reportedly decided to transfer a portion of its arsenal that includes the Russian-made S-300 air defense systems to Armenia. This decision emerged from reports on November 25, 2024, aligning with Greece's broader strategy of 'de-Russification' of its military hardware towards more Western-aligned systems. The S-300 systems, particularly the long-range S-300PMU-1s, have long been a topic of speculation regarding potential transfers. Interestingly, while the idea of transferring these systems to Ukraine had previously been floated, Greece's current pivot towards Armenia signals a change in focus amidst evolving geopolitical tensions in the region. Greek analysts, such as George Tzogopoulos from the Centre International de Formation Européenne, have expressed skepticism about the transfer, citing concerns over Greece's own defense priorities and the need for Moscow's consent for such re-exports of military equipment. Furthermore, the Greek-Turkish relations have deteriorated, making regional defense cooperation increasingly important. While the military cooperation between Greece and Armenia has roots going back to the early 1990s following Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union, the current geopolitical climate, notably Armenia's tensions with Azerbaijan, emphasizes the necessity for ongoing collaboration. However, experts assert that while the partnership is developing, both nations have limits regarding their military collaboration, especially concerning Greece's relations with Russia, which remain delicate particularly after the events surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.