Greece weighs Patriot withdrawal from Saudi Arabia after five years

Greece is considering whether to withdraw its Patriot air-defence system from Saudi Arabia after five years of deployment, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

The future of the Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia (ELDYSA) and the Patriot battery stationed in the Yanbu area is expected to be decided at the next meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA).

The Greek Ministry of National Defence is considering two options: extending the deployment by one month and reviewing the matter again in October, or withdrawing the Patriot system from Saudi Arabia after five years.

Greek Air Force personnel are currently preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia at the end of September to replace colleagues stationed there.

The deployment has provided operational benefits to the Greek Armed Forces, but uncertainty remains over agreements between Athens and Riyadh concerning the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) framework, particularly the maintenance and modernisation of Greece's Patriot systems.

Greece and Saudi Arabia had been in advanced talks to upgrade all six of the Greek Air Force's long-range mobile Patriot batteries, in a deal estimated at about $350 million in 2021 prices and funded by Saudi Arabia. The talks were frozen after the outbreak of war on 28 February, amid increased demand for air-defence systems and ammunition.

There had also been differences over the scope of the proposed upgrade, with some Saudi officials reportedly favouring improvements only to the Yanbu battery, whose radar and launchers have been under prolonged operational strain.

Greek officials say discussions with Riyadh are continuing and that Athens still wants the upgrade agreement to be implemented. They also say commitments to replenish missiles used against ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft are being maintained, so that Greece's national ammunition reserves are not depleted.

Since March 19, 2026, ELDYSA has intercepted four ballistic missiles and three UAVs launched by Iran and Houthi forces in Yemen towards energy facilities in western Saudi Arabia.

Official figures cited by Kathimerini say seven missiles were used in seven successful interceptions, giving a 100% hit rate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev