The Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, where he was a keynote speaker this morning, Friday, October 10, went to the United Kingdom at the opening of the 9th Greek-British Symposium at the University of Cambridge (Jesus College) on “Greece and the United Kingdom”.

In detail the talk points of Nikos Dendia:

  • Anniversary for closer strategic Western Allies cooperation in a “era of uncertainty”.
  • He did not refer to the classic Greek -Turkish differences (Casus belli, Turkolibyy Memorandum). Instead, he raised a more fundamental question to the United Kingdom: Is London sure to share with Ankara the same worldview and the same geopolitical aspirations?
  • He said a “test”: If artificial intelligence created two images of the world in 30 years, one according to London’s vision and one according to Ankara’s vision, “how similar would these two pictures be?”
  • He pointed out the contradiction that Turkey, although a member of NATO, maintained “the warmest relations with Moscow”. He stressed that not only has he imposed any ratification on Russia, but on the contrary, Russian funds are entering the Turkish economy
  • He referred to Turkey as one of the foreign actors (along with Russia) who see the Western Balkans as a “arena of geopolitical competition”. It also describes Turkey’s “aggressive attitude” in the Caucasus as a challenge for stability. In Syria, Turkey’s influence is considered a “large restriction”
  • He said that Greece has “oversized armed forces” because it faces “a big threat from a neighbor” that is ten times larger in size. This threat is the main reason that Greece implements the transformative program “Agenda 2030” for its Armed Forces.