The interception of an Iranian drone by a Greek Patriot system over Saudi Arabia on Easter Monday has reignited debate in Athens over the costs and benefits of Greece’s military deployment to the Gulf.

Greece’s defence ministry confirmed the incident, the second involving Greek-operated systems since the deployment began. The Patriot battery is stationed in Yanbu, a strategic Red Sea oil export hub that allows Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Initial assessments indicate the drone may have been a Shahed-136, a low-cost system widely used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and allied Houthi forces.

The deployment is part of Greece’s broader effort to contribute to the protection of critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf, while also strengthening its strategic ties with Saudi Arabia. But Athens is also making clear it has another objective: gaining operational experience with advanced air defence systems in real-world conditions.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia last week, Nikos Dendias, Greece’s defence minister, described the experience gained from the mission as “indispensable” for the country’s defence preparedness “in this new geopolitical context”.

Still, the mission has raised political and financial questions at home.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has sought to downplay the risks of escalation, stressing that Greece’s role is limited to defensive operations. Speaking after last month’s European Council summit in Brussels, he said the deployment aims to “protect critical energy infrastructure such as Saudi refineries” and “help stabilise global oil markets,” insisting that it does not amount to involvement in the regional conflict.

However, questions remain over the cost-effectiveness of the operation. A single Patriot interceptor missile is estimated to cost between €3 million and €4 million, compared with drones valued at around €50,000.

But some officials in Greece argue that the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries, which includes significant Saudi investments in Greece in areas ranging from renewable energy projects to digital infrastructure, could compensate some of the costs incurred by the mission.

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