ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece will spend 25 billion euros ($27 billion) over the next decade to adapt its military to evolving high-tech warfare technologies, officials announced Wednesday.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias told parliament the overhaul will be built around a planned air defense system called “Achilles Shield,” primarily aimed at addressing tensions with neighboring Turkey.
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Greek Apache military helicopters fly in front of the ancient Acropolis hill, during a military parade to commemorate the start of Greece's 1821 war of independence against the 400-year Ottoman rule, in Athens, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Greek F-16 fighter jets fly in front of the ancient Acropolis hill, during a military parade to commemorate the start of Greece's 1821 war of independence against the 400-year Ottoman rule, in Athens, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Greek F-16 fighter jets fly in front of the ancient Acropolis hill, during a military parade to commemorate the start of Greece's 1821 war of independence against the 400-year Ottoman rule, in Athens, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a presentation of military spending plans, at the Greek Parliament, in Athens, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a presentation of military spending plans, at the Greek Parliament, in Athens, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, speaks with Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, during a presentation of military spending plans, at the Greek Parliament, in Athens, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
FILE - Greek fighter jets Mirage 2000-5 Mk.II fly over the Greek capital during a military parade in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)
The two NATO members have long-standing disputes over boundaries in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean that have brought them close to war several times in recent decades.
Dendias said Greece plans to shift from traditional defense systems to a high-tech, networked strategy centered on mobile, AI-powered missile systems, drone technologies, and advanced command units — reducing reliance on conventional fleets.
The plan also includes new programs such as next-generation soldier gear equipped with sensors and communication systems, and the development of dedicated satellite capabilities to ensure secure communications during conflict.
“What we are proposing is an existential issue for the country — a complete shift in our defense approach, a total change in doctrine,” Dendias said. “We’re moving away from the traditional thinking that the Aegean is defended solely by the fleet.”
The overhaul, which will be presented to lawmakers behind closed doors in the coming weeks, also involves greater inclusion of local tech start-ups and a major personnel reorganization – merging units, closing underused bases, and addressing a top-heavy command structure.
The initiative comes as European countries ramp up military spending in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and indications that the Trump administration wants to reduce the United States’ commitment to European defense.
Greece’s modernization drive — launched after years of defense cuts during the 2010–2018 financial crisis — already includes all branches of the armed forces and focuses on cooperation with France, Israel, and the United States. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met in Israel on Sunday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli defense officials. On Wednesday, Mitsotakis dismissed calls by some opposition parties to abandon plans to buy U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets in favor of a European alternative, describing the program as an important “long-term investment.”
Greek Apache military helicopters fly in front of the ancient Acropolis hill, during a military parade to commemorate the start of Greece's 1821 war of independence against the 400-year Ottoman rule, in Athens, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Greek F-16 fighter jets fly in front of the ancient Acropolis hill, during a military parade to commemorate the start of Greece's 1821 war of independence against the 400-year Ottoman rule, in Athens, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Greek F-16 fighter jets fly in front of the ancient Acropolis hill, during a military parade to commemorate the start of Greece's 1821 war of independence against the 400-year Ottoman rule, in Athens, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a presentation of military spending plans, at the Greek Parliament, in Athens, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a presentation of military spending plans, at the Greek Parliament, in Athens, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, right, speaks with Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, during a presentation of military spending plans, at the Greek Parliament, in Athens, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
FILE - Greek fighter jets Mirage 2000-5 Mk.II fly over the Greek capital during a military parade in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Memorials were taking place Thursday for a merengue star and others killed when a cement roof collapsed at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic, as the number of dead surged to 221 and crews completed their search for bodies.
Mourners clad in black and white streamed into Santo Domingo’s National Theater, where the body of Rubby Pérez lay inside a closed coffin. Pérez had been performing on stage at the packed Jet Set club early Tuesday when dust began falling from the ceiling and, seconds later, the roof caved.
President Luis Abinader and first lady Raquel Arbaje arrived at the theater and stood beside Pérez's coffin for several minutes. Some mourners doubled over in tears as a recording of Pérez singing the national anthem played. Renowned Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra was among those gathered to pay their respects.
Pérez, 69, had turned to music after a car accident left him unable to pursue his dream of becoming a professional baseball player. He was known for hits including “Volveré," which he sang with Wilfrido Vargas's orchestra, and “Buscando tus besos" as a solo artist.
Just blocks from the memorial for Pérez, heavy equipment began withdrawing from the site where Jet Set once stood and rescue crews packed up their equipment.
Meanwhile, a group of prosecutors arrived.
It is still unclear what caused the roof to collapse or when the building was last inspected. The government has said it will launch a thorough investigation, and the club’s owners have said they are cooperating with authorities.
Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, broke down as he addressed reporters.
“Thank you, God, because today we accomplished the most difficult task I’ve had in 20 years,” he said, moving the microphone away from his face as he cried. Other officials patted him on the back as he continued, “Please forgive me,” before passing the microphone to an army official.
Officials said 189 people were rescued alive from the rubble. More than 200 were injured, with 24 of them still hospitalized, including eight in critical condition.
“If the trauma is too great, there’s not a lot of time” left to save patients in that condition, said Health Minister Víctor Atallah. He and other doctors said some of the injured suffered fractures to the skull, femur and pelvis.
Many people have been anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, growing frustrated with the drip-drip of information provided by hospitals and the country’s forensic institute.
At least 146 bodies have been identified, authorities said Thursday.
María Luisa Taveras told TV station Noticias SIN that she was looking for her sister.
“We have gone everywhere they have told us,” she said, her voice breaking.
Taveras said the family has spread out, with a relative stationed at each hospital and at the National Institute of Forensic Pathology. Dozens of people waited at the institute Thursday, wearing face masks and complaining about the smell as they demanded the release of their loved ones' bodies.
“The odor is unbearable,” said Wendy Sosa, who has been waiting since Wednesday morning for the body of her cousin, 61-year-old Nilka Curiel González. Sosa told The Associated Press by phone that the situation there was “chaotic,” and that officials had set up a refrigerated container to handle the volume of bodies being delivered.
She wept as she described her cousin as gracious, authentic, and “very empathetic."
Victims identified so far include former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera; and Nelsy Cruz, the governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi whose brother is seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz.
Dotel will be buried Thursday in Santo Domingo. Hundreds of people attended his wake on Wednesday, including Hall of Famer David Ortiz, formerly of the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz said the number of people who attended Dotel’s wake spoke volumes.
“He was a person whom everyone loved,” Ortiz told reporters. “It’s very hard, very hard, truly.”
MLB Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez attended another wake Thursday.
“There are no words to describe the pain we are all feeling,” said Martínez, adding that he knew more than 50 of those who died. “Life is but a breath.”
Also killed was a retired United Nations official; saxophonist Luis Solís, who was playing onstage when the roof fell; New York-based fashion designer Martín Polanco; the son and daughter-in-law of the minister of public works; the brother of the vice minister of the Ministry of Youth; and three employees of Grupo Popular, a financial services company, including the president of AFP Popular Bank and his wife.
More than 20 victims came from Haina, Rubby Pérez's hometown, just southwest of Santo Domingo.
On Thursday, the governor held a communal wake, setting up 10 stands for coffins beneath a banner that read: “Haina bids farewell to her beloved children with immense sorrow.”
Among the mourners was Juancho Guillén, who lost his wife three months ago and whose brother, sister and brother-in-law died at Jet Set.
“This family is in shock, is devastated," he told Noticias SIN. "We’re practically dead too.”
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
An excavator works at the site of the Jet Set nightclub days after its roof collapsed during a concert, killing more than 200 people in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A person is comforted before identifying the body of a family member who died at the Jet Set nightclub, days after its roof collapsed during a concert and killed more than 200 people, outside the National Institute of Forensic Pathology in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Mourners attend a memorial for Rubby Perez, the merengue singer who was performing at the Jet Set nightclub when its roof collapsed, killing more than 200 people, at the National Theater in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers stand at site of the Jet Set nightclub days after its roof collapsed during a concert, killing more than 200 people in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers stand at the Jet Set nightclub days after its roof collapsed, killing more than 200 people in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, center right, and his wife Raquel Arbaje Soni speak with the family of Dominican singer Rubby Perez who died in the roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub while performing in concert, during the wake at the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Workers prepare a crane on the third day of rescue efforts at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra, left, attends a wake of Rubby Perez, the merengue singer who was performing at the Jet Set nightclub when its roof collapsed, killing more than 200 people, at the National Theater in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An excavator removes concrete at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed three nights before during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Zulinka, center, the daughter of Dominican singer Rubby Perez who died in the roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub during his merengue concert, cries during his wake at the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
The hat and sunglasses of Dominican singer Rubby Perez, who died in the roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub during his merengue concert, sit on his casket during his wake at the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An image of victim Nelsy Cruz, governor of Montecristi, is seen at a makeshift vigil for the victims of the Jet Set club roof collapse, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Rescue workers carry the recovered body of a victim who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
Soldiers prepare to assist with security during the rescue effort at Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
A poster of victim Rubby Perez is seen at a makeshift vigil for the victims of the Jet Set club roof collapse in the Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
People attend a Mass for the victims of the Jet Set club roof collapse, at St. Elizabeth's Church, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
People attend a Mass for the victims of the Jet Set club roof collapse at St. Elizabeth's Church, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
People pray for their missing relatives outside Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
Rescue workers carry the recovered body of a victim who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
Rescue workers search for bodies at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers search for bodies at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers carry the recovered body of a victim who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers search for bodies at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers carry the recovered body of a victim in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025 who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A man sleeps on bottles of water in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in front of the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers carry the recovered body of a victim who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People who spent all night at the site of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025, continue to wait for news of survivors after its roof collapsed two nights prior during a merengue concert. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Rescue workers carry the recovered body of a victim in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025 who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Women cry during the search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed two nights prior during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
Family members wait to identify the remains of their loved who died when the roof collapsed at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert, in a parking lot of the National Institute of Forensic Pathology in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, (AP Photo/Marvin Del Cid)
Rescue workers stand next to a recovered body of a victim who died when the roof collapsed two nights prior at the Jet Set nightclub during a merengue concert, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernandez)
