“Our country is not going to give up its rights, as provided by the International Law and the International Law of the Sea“, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, said today from Rhodes where he visited the 95th Higher Command of the National Guard Battalions, accompanied by the Chief of the National Guard General Dimitrios Houpis.

The relevant assurance was provided by Mr. Dendias, citing the fact that “Finland,” which he visited to study their own conscription model, “recently abandoned ‘Finlandization.’ Our country, Greece, has no intention of becoming a country of limited sovereignty. And of course ‘Finlandization’ is not going to find a new seat in Greece” he made clear.

“And it is our constitutional obligation to defend these rights, which are also guaranteed by the European acquis. That is, the set of its legal rules The European Union, which all the member states of our Union have subscribed to. Our country naturally maintains the right to defend itself against any threat and in every part of our national space, even the last and smallest rock island”, he added.

At the same time, he reminded that “its regional unity Rhodes, demarcates, not only the national borders, the borders of our country, but also the European borders. The Treaty of Lausanne, the Italo-Turkish agreements of 1932 and the Treaty of Paris of 1947 fully and clearly establish Greek sovereignty over all the islands of the Archipelago” he added, making “special reference to the great importance of the Megistis island complex, i.e. Kastellorizo ».

Mr. Dendias reiterated that “Greece, relying on its Armed Forces and what has been achieved in its foreign policy in the last four years, has an important presence on the international scene. For Greek society, but also for the Mitsotakis government, strengthening the deterrent power of the Armed Forces is an absolute priority. Hence the formulation of the ‘2030 agenda’, i.e. the major reform of the Armed Forces which is underway, recalling the Prime Minister’s statement in the last cabinet, that this reform is perhaps the largest in the history of the Greek state”.

“Our goal is to create a modern, effective army, truly a 21st century army, capable of meeting the challenges of this century. We ask for Armed Forces that play a leading role in ensuring peace and stability, in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, but when national needs require it and beyond it. At this moment, a frigate of the Greek Navy is already operating in the Red Sea and our participation in international operations such as the SHIELDS operation, proves our commitment, but also our ability, to defend international legality, especially when the violation it harms our national interests” he further pointed out.

THE Minister of National Defense he reiterated that “Greece is the country that excels in the creation and operation of a European defense arm. This arm can even protect the role of our country and our ports, as an important commercial hub. And to allow the transportation of products to Greece and Europe, defending our ability, not only to be safe, but also to have an acceptable cost of living. As you know, the increase in the transportation cost of products after the attacks in the Red Sea and the non-use by many shipping companies of the Suez Canal, has increased the cost of the products that reach the Greek consumer. So we must also defend the standard of living of our citizens”, he concluded.

Mr. Dendias was informed by the commander of the 95 ADTE Major General Georgios Manouras, about operational issues and the mission of the formation.

Also present were the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy Ioannis Pappas and the MPs Tsampika (Mika) Iatridis, Manos Konsolas and Vasilios – Nikolaos Ypsilantis.

Afterwards, Mr. Dendias visited the South Aegean region, where he met with the regional governor Giorgos Chatzimarkos.