Among other things, he pointed out the need for “the Armed Forces of our country to embrace the new doctrines, to understand the new lessons learned (war in Ukraine, Gaza, the war in the Caucasus) and to adapt accordingly their tactics and the means they have” the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, in an interview with the Action24 television station.

“Is it possible that next to us, around us, everywhere, there is a revolution and we just go with a set of rules that we have prescribed many years ago?” he wondered.

“We need to change the way we plan, perceive and prepare to react,” he said. At the same time, he expressed the certainty that the new leadership of the Greek Armed Forces will manage to implement this priority, which has a time limit (including changes) in 2030.

Mr. Dendias stated that the F-35s will be acquired from Greece. “But F-35s are not enough, there has to be a total change of landscape and perception,” he reiterated.

Regarding the equipment program of the Navy, Mr. Dendias, after clarifying that “it is not the role of the Minister of National Defense to make announcements of acquisition, non-acquisition, modification of acquisition” assured that “the modernization of our Navy will be completed, but the this completion will take into account the new conditions in the region and the new technological developments”.

The Minister of National Defense referred to the changes in the existing term of office of the Greek citizen which include:

– the training time “to acquire those abilities that allow him to survive and to impose, if you like, the Greek will on the battlefield”
– the acquisition of skills and
– the retraining: In the first phase, as he said, the retraining will be on a voluntary basis, “we will not oblige anyone. But I am sure, understanding their constitutional mission, the great majority will accept to be retrained, so that we have a reserve army , who is ready to join our reorganized units and ready to serve the country”.

“The Finnish model is the future of tenure for the Greek army of 2030,” he further stated.

Concern about escalation in the Middle East

Besides, the Minister of National Defense expressed his concern about the ongoing attacks, both in the Red Sea and in the wider region. He stated that the Greek frigate will sail for the Red Sea after it has been fully prepared and its role depends on the overall strength and the distribution of roles. He reiterated that “it is not a frigate that participates in a foreign mission. It is a frigate that participates in the protection of the vital interests of our homeland”.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, he expressed hope for a rapid de-escalation, for a truce and recalled “the obligation to protect human rights, especially the rights of civilians. However, no one has the right to forget the barbaric attack that Israel suffered, the October 7th”.
Regarding the Turkish President’s latest statements about a “blue homeland”, the Minister of National Defense observed that “we have seen a change of style and a change of behavior on the Turkish side and it is absolutely welcome. We have not seen the slightest change of positions”.

To a related question, he replied that “we do not trust (the other side) we monitor and react according to the climate that exists”.

Same-sex couples

Finally, to a question “about the controversial bill called ‘same-sex couples'”, Mr. Dendias remarked:

“To position myself clearly on a bill that I have not seen yet, you will allow me to say that it would probably mean a lack of seriousness on my part. On the other hand, of course, I am part of the Mitsotakis government. I am not part of another government. The last what I can allow myself is to indicate to colleagues what they should do – and on matters of conscience at that. The bill when it is written and introduced will, to be sure, have a clear political imprint. And the clear political imprint will be a reflection of the provisions which the legislation itself has in its provisions”, he concluded.