Greece approves its biggest naval modernisation in 20 years

Purchase of Belharra frigates underpins key alliance with France, changes balance of forces in the Aegean, and champions autonomous European defence capability

ATHENS, Greece - As the drums of war were beating on Ukraine’s borders, Greek opposition parties joined the government in approving the country’s biggest naval modernisation in two decades.

Over the next four years, Greece will spend 2.26bn euros ($2.52bn) buying three Belharra frigates built by France’s Naval Group, considered state-of-the art in the We…