Greece will almost double its defense spending after parliament approved the 2025 state budget Sunday with a roll-call vote, traditionally regarded as a vote of confidence in the government.
With 159 out of a total of 299 votes cast, the State budget for the fiscal year 2025 was ratified while the defense expenditure was approved by a larger majority.
Spending for the defense ministry will rise to 6.1 billion euros ($6.5 billion) from 3.6 billion euros, due to the increase in equipment deliveries in 2025.
“Compared to 2019, by 2025, spending on health will have increased by 74 percent and spending on defense by 73 percent, underlining the government’s priorities,” Minister of Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis had said late November on submitting the budget to parliament.