Israel, a key provider of European security

The European Union is strengthening its defense capabilities through increasingly frequent purchases of Israeli technologies, even as political relations between the bloc and Israel are strained by the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. European governments are buying sensors, surveillance systems, interceptors, air defense solutions and cybersecurity technologies.

The latest example is Greece, which signed a €3 billion agreement with Israel at the end of August. The “Achilles Shield” program will provide systems to protect the country against missiles, aircraft and drones. Athens requested access to the source code so it could independently maintain and modernize the technology.

Politico’s analysis shows that Israeli companies have become important suppliers for several European countries. In 2025, Elbit Systems received a €25 million contract in the Netherlands, while a €6.5 million agreement was awarded in Denmark. Spain and Italy have also concluded contracts or partnerships in defense and cybersecurity.

The cooperation is based on Israel’s operational experience and close ties between the military, companies, academia and start-ups. However, critics warn that Europe risks replacing its dependence on the United States with dependence on Israel and limiting its ability to politically sanction the Israeli government’s policies. Disagreements over Gaza have so far failed to significantly slow bilateral agreements.