The visit of Erdogan and the Supreme Cooperation Council to Athens was a step in the direction of calm in Greek-Turkish relations. It goes without saying, however, that we are not naive to expect the removal of problems and the resolution of our dispute “magically” through a Council and a visit. This was emphasized, among others, by Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendiasin an interview he gave to the newspaper “To Vima tis Kyriaki”.

He called the calm “welcome” and went on to say that “under conditions it could contribute to the prospect of further improvement”. “But”, he pointed out, “we must not forget the many historical shifts in the pendulum of relations between Greece and Turkey. We must always be ready for both the positive and the negative scenario.”

“It is useful to discuss even when we are known to disagree, as this helps to avoid an ‘accident’. In other words, an action that may not be premeditated, but due to the absence of communication channels, it will take on unpredictable dimensions,” clarified Mr. Dendias.

For his meeting with his counterpart Yasar Guler, Mr. Dendias referred to their good personal communication but underlined that “if we want a real change of page in Greek-Turkish relations, we also need a change of attitude of the neighboring country on structural issues which can potentially cause a regression in tension in the future”.

“The casus belli for the exercise of Greece’s legal right, the Turkish-Libyan Memorandum, the completely unsupported theory of the “Blue Homeland”, Ankara’s stance on the Cyprus issue and the well-known unsupported objections on a number of other issues, are some of these issues” explained the Minister of National Defense.

Mr. Dendias continued by saying: “I hope that Turkey, for its part, will continue to contribute to avoiding tensions on the ground. International Law is our guide and what is stated in the Charter of the United Nations, to avoid the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state”.

For Confidence Building Measures (MOE), stated that “they can indeed contribute, under conditions, to the consolidation of a better climate and we are ready to host the next round of MOEs in Athens. But I will repeat what I have said – and you have reminded – that it is not a negotiation.”

In response to a question regarding whether the good climate in Greek-Turkish countries affects the planning for armaments, Mr. Dendias clarified that “Greece must have strong Armed Forces and not be hostage to the situation”.

“Planning”, he said, “is in the medium and long term and no one can predict what will happen in the long term” and added: “However, the planning of expenditures for future armaments meets the available fiscal space and the new reality created by the autonomous moving in air, land and sea, artificial intelligence, new technologies, cyber-security and other modern security challenges”.

“Pending the EU’s decision to exempt defense spending from budgetary restrictions, we are obliged to prioritize the twelve-year planning of our armament programs. At the same time, our goal is to make the best use of the money available to the Greek people from their arrears for the Armed Forces,” said the Minister of National Defence.

For the soon-to-be-expected bill from the Ministry of National Defense regarding reforms to the Armed Forces, Mr. Dendias pointed out that “a fundamental reform is the creation of a Defense Innovation Ecosystem, to support Research and Development with an emphasis on dual (military and civilian) use, according to the standards of international government bodies with experience in defense innovation ecosystems”.

“The Armed Forces,” he emphasized, “cannot be a mere consumer of all kinds of weapon systems. We must connect their needs with the development of the Greek defense industry and with specialized scientific research, so that they have the possibility to procure, among others, innovative products in the fields of artificial intelligence, cyber security and software production”.

For ecosystem development, pointed out that “it will be developed and implemented by the Hellenic Center for Defense Research and Innovation Development (EKAEAK), aiming to more effectively mobilize all available resources, private and public, from domestic as well as external funding sources”.

In this, he continued, “the Research Centers of the Armed Forces and the Higher Military Schools will also participate” while “the entity that will be responsible for the development of the Ecosystem will be an Anonymous Company which will be staffed by personnel from the Ministry of National Defense and from experienced and specialized executives in the specific subject, from the wider public as well as the private sector”.

“The aim of EKAEAK will also be the utilization of international interstate relations for the transfer of know-how between the Defense Industry ecosystems, the utilization of all international Defense organizations in which Greece participates (such as EDA, NATO, EDF), but also corresponding financial organizations, as well as the interconnection of the parts of the Greek innovation ecosystem (start-ups, Venture Capitals, academic and research institutions, technology transfer offices, Research Institutions and defense industry)” said Mr. Dendias.

For tenure reforms, Mr. Dendias clarified that “our aim is to utilize the knowledge after the completion of the military service, through the new possibilities in the labor market for those who participate in the relevant programs, but also the development of the digital skills of the conscripts. All this always combined with military training, which will also be upgraded.”

For the return of the EAB to the Ministry of National DefenceMr. Dendias said regarding the consolidation of the company, “the relevant provision which is in the final processing stage and will be submitted to a Draft Law, following cooperation between the Ministries of National Economy and Finance and the Ministry of National Defense” and expressed the hope “that it will be voted on by the end of the year”.