The challenge of deterrence in the Aegean is not only met with warships or fighter aircraft. It must also be countered with missile systems installed on the many islands of Greek territory. In this way we can achieve absolute deterrence both at sea and in the air. A change of philosophy is required, which also results from the lessons learned from the conflicts we see. This emphasized, among other things, the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias in an interview he gave to the newspaper “Sunday Daily” and the journalist Vassilis Nedos.

“There is,” he said, “a whole new approach to armaments that we’re going to present. There are two basic principles: Ensuring deterrence in the air and sea space of the Aegean. And the perception within and outside the Armed Forces of respecting the fiscal space”.

Mr. Dendias stated that “the start of negotiations for the fourth FDI is an important step in the direction of the country’s defense armor” and added that “it is not the only one”.

“The Fleet, due to the financial crisis, had been largely neglected. Actions are needed to be able to meet future security challenges, bearing in mind of course that spending cannot turn into a “black well”. All this is done with absolute respect for the backwardness of the Greek people and the need to respect the margins of the fiscal space”, he pointed out.

“We need to modernize the frigates that will remain in the Fleet and we need to start modernizing the missiles and submarines. The discussion must also begin on the new submarines that are required, even in a time horizon of 12-14 years,” he added.

He made it clear that “we are not dealing with armament programs piecemeal. We look at the role each system should serve.”

To create the “dome” over Greece, he underlined that “the planning has been completed and will be implemented, of course after the Parliament is informed and the KYSEA decides”.

Regarding the EU, he explained that it must “realize that Defense cannot be put in the same “bag” as all other issues. What the EU has decided, first to enter supervision and then to deduct the expenses of ‘Defence’, is comical.

“He is leading,” as he said, “a country into economic ruin.” If you enter supervision, the interest rates at which you borrow skyrocket, you are ruined and then the E.U. it justifies your expenses. When the EU itself calls for the creation of a defense arm, she cannot “criminalize” the emergency spending she says is needed.”

Regarding the discussions with the USA on surplus material, he emphasized that “the American side must fulfill its commitments in the Blinken letter to the Prime Minister”.

“Especially,” he continued, “it has not met them in terms of the LCS, and there is no clear answer for the 4 C-130s. And the Bradley armored vehicles supplied required repairs in the order of 8 million each. The issue of flying tankers also remains pending.”

He made it clear that Greece is a reliable ally of the US “and the United States knows it”. He also estimated that the US has the option “to contribute to the achievement of the goal of a technologically developed Greece, which will be one step ahead of any threat”.

“And this is not only in the interest of Greece. It is in the interest of the US so that we can play the role of a reliable, stable and serious ally in the wider region,” he added.

Regarding the facilitation of access to military schools and the measures that he and the Minister of Education, Religion and Sports Kyriakos Pierrakakis presented, the Minister of National Defense said that “we are indeed facing a big problem. This year less than half of the students needed by the Greek Army were admitted to the Ewelpidon School. There is a risk that the Armed Forces will be understaffed.”

“We are focusing,” he added, “on two interventions. In the short term, we improve the living conditions and the pay of the students of the Military Schools. We are also improving the Faculties, which will be able to have a higher level of studies, do research and grant doctorates. In the long term, the real solution is to make a career in the Armed Forces more attractive. To have a different salary scale, commensurate with the services they provide to the Hellenic Republic, as well as other living conditions”.

Referring to the changes in military service, he made it clear that “service to the country should benefit the country and the citizen”.

“At the moment”, explained Mr. Dendias, “none of the two is happening. The level of education is so low that the country does not win, while the way the term is conducted is so bad that the young man does not win. Both of these need to change. We have selected foreign models, such as the Finnish one, that we will adapt. There will be a different cycle of training and a different provision of skills.”

Regarding the fact that Turkish officials often attack him, Mr. Dendias commented: “I am one of the politicians who believe that Greece and Turkey can find a solution to their dispute. With realism but also with a concrete basis, International Law and the International Law of the Sea. I have given writing samples, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece who negotiated and signed the two unique EEZ delimitation agreements in the history of the Greek state, with Italy and Egypt. We had reached a general agreement with Albania as well. If there hadn’t been the Beleris case, we would have been left with nothing, either to go to The Hague, or to close the issue bilaterally”.

“No one can blame me for the absurdities of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum and the “Blue Homeland” and the obvious illegality of the casus belli. However, if Turkey pursues with the occasional personal attacks to silence me on matters of International Law, I’m sorry, but I will upset them,” he continued.

Regarding reports that Mr. Dendias is one of the persons that the Prime Minister could propose for her election of the President of the Republic, the Minister of National Defense made it clear: “I stay away from this discussion which, apart from everything else, is also untimely. The country has a President, as the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated. As far as I am concerned, what I can assure you is that it is not in my intentions.”

“I believe that the President of the Hellenic Republic must be a person of wider political and social acceptance” he added.

Regarding his personal relationship with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he said that “it is a relationship between a Prime Minister and a minister of his Government. Mr. Mitsotakis chose me.”