Our main problem is whether European money, namely the European Union, are spent in a way that directly or indirectly threaten Greece’s defense.

This was emphasized by the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, who participated today, Tuesday, July 1st, in the 29th Economist Round Table debate in Lagonissi regarding European Defense Funds.

He made it clear that “the question is not if we have the ability to veto” and added: “The European Union does not work on the basis of the veto. It works mainly on the basis of consensus – and I think that our friends and partners within the European Union will understand this oxymoron. Finish a weapon that can turn to one of the partners of the European family. “

“Turkey is an ally in NATO. On the other hand, however, Turkey still has Casus Belli at the expense of Greece. So for us, the issue is dual. We want Turkey to have the treatment of an ally, but on the other hand we see Turkey as a country that has declared Casus Belli against us, “he said.

“So,” he added, “the strengthening of their defense industry without Turkey’s side commitment that they will change their approach to Greece is a problem.”

Mr Dendias made it clear that Greece can contribute to the new day of European defense with “innovation” and explained: “We have excellent scientists in small but with enormous potential defense companies of our ecosystem, which if integrated into the broader European ecosystem.”

On relations with the United States, Mr Dendias said: “We have a very good relationship with the United States, regardless of the US administration and government.” “We had a good relationship with the Biden government and I think we will have an excellent relationship with the Trump government,” he said, adding: “This is an ally. We have common concerns and I think this will apply in the future. And of course we use corresponding equipment, we have the F-35s which are currently the best aircraft in its class, we are talking about a fifth generation aircraft. We are very close to the US and we will continue to be. “

On the NATO summit, Mr Dendias stressed that he “went very well” and explained: “Everyone has agreed to increase their spending to 3.5% plus 1.5%. There was a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing the alliance. ” He described this step as “huge for NATO” and made it clear that “it was important that everyone understood that Europe has to pay for its own defense.”

“There are,” he continued, “challenges that remain. We know that not all countries may reach 3.5%, let alone the plus 1.5%. We do not know what kind of equipment to be purchased. Because there is another issue here, not only how much you spend, but also how, what systems you will supply, how innovation works, how artificial intelligence is integrated, how you upgrade infrastructure. “

Mr Dendias, however, pointed out that the costs of defense are also hiding the danger of “creating inflation and buying wrong systems with more money”.

“We have to be brought with wisdom, wisdom and restructure the units. Buying new systems, new weapons without changing the structure, without changing the system, approach or culture makes no sense, ”he warned.

“NATO must be reshaped and especially the European armies must be reshaped. For many years no one in Europe, and I am not saying about Greece now, no one in Europe believed that he would return, there would be a war conflict in our countries, “the Minister of National Defense said.

On the changes in European defense, Mr Dendias stressed that “there is much to change”, “we must modernize”.

“Most of our armies live in another era, they are ready for other kinds of battles, they are not ready for what is happening right now in Ukraine or other fronts around the world. We need to know innovation, artificial intelligence, educate our soldiers in a different nature, a different character of war clashes, technologies and methods, ”he said.

“The whole culture of a rigorous mechanism, following commands from above, is something that has to change,” he added and noted:

“This means that the structure must also change. More power should be given, not necessarily to high -ranking but to the lower class officers. “

For the lessons from Ukraine, he said they confirm that “if we do not change we will not be competitive, it is very simple, clear.”

“The need leads us. Usually the armed approach was as follows: to buy equipment and store it for stock. This is no longer working, ”he clarified. “If you buy a million drones and put them in a warehouse and try to use them after 2 years, they will be outdated, better to throw them away. They have no value, ”he added.

“What you need to do is create an approach in which e.g. Three -dimensional printers near the front, to be able to challenge, to answer the challenges you will face at the moment. So change software, understanding, systems. We are talking about a completely different approach, “the Minister of National Defense said.

Referring to “Achilles’ Shield, Mr Dendias said that” they are multilevel “and” protects the country holistically from rockets, aircraft and drone “. Achilles’ shield is, he continued, “a big part of our approach to the equipment used by the Armed Forces. For the first time in Greek history, this government has issued a 20 -year plan, a 20 -year plan for public procurement for the Armed Forces and the anti -missile defense is part of this approach. “

He described the “Achilles’ shield” something “holistic”, which “incorporates everything, whether it is the army, the Air Force, the Navy, or it is our airline”.

“We are modernizing,” he continued, “practically everything. Even the structure of the Armed Forces. We are changing the Navy, we take the new frigates from France, 4 new ones that are top of their kind. We intend to buy frigates from Italy, renew our rest of our fleet, so we change everything. “

The Minister of National Defense has made it clear that Greece would not particularly increase its defense spending which he said ranges from “3.1 to 3.2%”.

“Or Turkey spends numerically much more than us, but we are smaller as a country. In any case, our priorities are defense. We are not attacked. This is what you understand that it creates economies of scale. We do not intend to attack someone. We have to modernize and at the moment our priority is the holistic approach to Achilles’ shield. “

Mr. Dendias participated in the “Europe’s Strategy on Defense and Security” section, in which he had a discussion with Daniel Franklin, Executive & Diplomatic Editor of “The Economist”.

On the sidelines of participation in the 29th “Economist” roundtable discussion, the Minister of National Defense had meetings with former and current foreign countries and organizations. More specifically, he met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska, former US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, and former German Foreign Minister and President of the 80th UK General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock.

The discussion was also attended by the Chief of General Staff General Dimitris Houpis, the Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General George Kostidis, the Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Dimitrios-Eleftherios Qatari PN, the Chief of the General Staff (I).