The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos participated, on Tuesday, 11 May 2021, in an online event organized by the “Center for Strategic and International Studies” (CSIS) which is considered as one of the most important “think tanks” in the USA.

During the discussion, Mr. Panagiotopoulos referred to the recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, to the reasons that cause this increasing instability and the initiatives which our country has developed, in cooperation with regional partners and Allies, in order to promote security and stability in the wider region, as well as to promote conditions that will ensure the growth and prosperity of its countries.

As the Minister of National Defence stressed, a necessary prerequisite for peace and security in the region is the settlement of disputes with full respect to International Law and International Treaties, particularly to the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The enlargement and deepening of relations between Greece and USA was, also, a matter of discussion. They underscored the strategic character of the defence cooperation for the benefit of both countries, of the Alliance and the security in the wider region.

Mr. Panagiotopoulos referred also to the initiatives assumed for the reinforcement and modernization of capabilities of the Hellenic Armed Forces, in order to defend national sovereignty, as well as to contribute to the defence and deterrence capacity of NATO.

He underlined that the Alliance should face up to the retrogression of democracy among its members, and support initiatives which will reinforce the political cohesion in NATO and which will proclaim anew its commitment to the principles of peace, democracy, solidarity and unity.