Today, Tuesday 12 May 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its Defence configuration in Brussels.

The Council was also attended by the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte and, via teleconference, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

The Defence Ministers ratified the total approach for the reinforcement of the European Defence Agency and approved the first phase of its application. They were also briefed on the Threat Analysis update procedure.

They also discussed matters pertaining to the common European defence, as well as the situation in the Middle East.

The Greek Minister stressed the need to reinforce the European defence industry, focusing on innovation and the implementation of the Defence Readiness agenda.

He also brought to the attention of his counterparts, as well as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine who attended the Council via teleconference, the matter of the Ukrainian sea drone found in Greece and the great risk it posed to the security of navigation.

Upon his arrival at the Council, Mr. Dendias made the following statement:

“Today we will have the opportunity to discuss matters having to do with our common European defence, as well as the situation after the closure of the Straight of Hormuz and the overall situation in the Middle East and how that affects Europe and the European defence.

But especially I will have the opportunity to inform my colleagues, in the presence, through VTC, of the Ukrainian Defence Minister, of the drone we fished in Greece, the USV, which we are now certain that it is a Ukrainian USV. You understand that the presence of that USV, the sea drone, affects the freedom of navigation and also the security of navigation. This is an extremely serious issue.”