Greece to discuss 5-year US defence deal: PM

Greeceand the US are in talks to extend theirdefencedeals by five years, instead of one-year renewals now in force, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday.

"We are discussing a five-year extension to thedefencecooperation agreement, so that we don't have to renew it on an annual basis," Mitsotakis told a news conference at the Thessaloniki International Fair.

There would be a "more important US presence in our country, possibly in areas where they currently do not have a presence," he said, without elaborating.

Mitsotakis added that Greek-US strategic cooperation "is at its best level ever".

In 2019, Athens and Washington signed adefenceagreement allowing US forces a broader use of Greek military facilities during a visit by then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

This however "does not shut the door to other strategic agreements", the premier said on Sunday, citing an ongoing "very close" relationship with France.

Greeceand France in January signed a 2.5-billion-euro ($3 billion)dealfor 18 Rafale jets,12 used and six new as part of a burgeoning arms programme to counter Turkish challenges in the eastern Mediterranean.

On Saturday, Mitsotakis saidGreecewould "soon" purchase an additional six Rafales.

"The first among them will be flying in Greek skies before the end of the year," thePMsaid, without giving further detail.

The announcement was welcomed Sunday by FrenchDefenceMinister Florence Parly, who tweeted: "Together, we are making progress in constructing true European autonomy."

Athens also supports efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron to improve the EU's independent operational capabilities, Mitsotakis said on Sunday.

Macron will visit Athens on Friday for a meeting of the Med7summit of southern EU countries.

Greecespends more than two percent of its national output ondefence, thePMsaid.

Mitsotakis last year announcedGreece's most ambitious arms spending programme in two decades, including 15,000 additional troops, frigates, missiles and warplanes.