On Tuesday, 28 May 2024, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its Defence configuration in Brussels.
Upon arriving at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its Defence configuration, Mr. Dendias made the following statement:
“Today marks the 45th anniversary of Greece’s entry into the European family, the EEC at the time, with the signature of Konstantinos Karamanlis. We honour this anniversary in the most appropriate manner, I believe, since it coincides with the Foreign Affairs Council in its Defence configuration, which will discuss something very important: A third great European step.
First the common market, then the common currency, now common Defence. However, to implement this great step, we must first implement two parameters. First, a single European defence arm. In this framework, I would like to stress the excellent initiative of the Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis and the Polish Prime Minister Tusk for the creation of a European anti-air dome. Greece has a lot to offer in this area and we are already in the process of creating our own anti-drone and anti-air dome.
Second, a European framework to ramp up our production of Defence and Defence Technology products. In this framework, Greece also has a lot to offer, since just last week the Hellenic Parliament passed by an overwhelming majority the creation of the new single Hellenic Defence Innovation Centre.
We will also discuss Operation “Aspides”, an operation led by Greece, which also has the operational responsibility, in order to reinforce the Operation.
I will also have bilateral meetings with my Dutch counterpart and three counterparts from Mozambique, Rwanda, and Cabo Verde. I think it is important for Greece, a country with significant Armed Forces, to provide knowledge and capabilities to countries with which it can have cordial relations.”
The Minister of National Defence first attended the working meeting for EU support to Ukraine of the European Ministers of Defence, in the presence of the NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg and the Defence Minister of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov.
Furthermore, Mr. Dendias participated in the working lunch, during which the member state Ministers of Defence exchanged views on the EU’s Defence Readiness to deal with common security challenges and destabilisation threats.
On the sidelines of the Council, the Minister of National Defence had discussions with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and the Secretary General of NATO.
Mr. Dendias met with his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren, with whom he discussed the further enhancement of bilateral defence relations.
He also had the opportunity to discuss with the Ministers of Defence of Bulgaria, Atanas Zapryanov, and Armenia, Suren Papikyan, the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence of Kuwait, Dr. Abdullah Meshal Mubarak Abdullah A. Alsabah, and the Commander of EU Operation ASPIDES, Rear Admiral Vasilios Gryparis HN.
Mr. Dendias them met with the Minister of Defence of Mozambique, Cristóvão Artur Chume, with whom they examined the prospects for further enhancement of the defence relations between Greece and Mozambique. The Minister stressed that Greece has an active and essential presence in Mozambique, something he confirmed during his visit to the country last year. He also stressed that Hellenic Armed Forces officers serve in the European Union’s EUTM mission, training personnel of the Armed Forces of Mozambique.
The Minister of National Defence also met with his counterpart from Cabo Verde Janine Tatiana Santos Lelis. The two Ministers agreed to further enhance the bilateral defence cooperation, focusing on military training and, in particular, naval training, as discussed between Mr. Dendias and the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rui Figueiredo Soares, during his visit to Athens on 18 April.
Moreover, Mr. Dendias met in Brussels with his counterpart from Rwanda Juvenal Marizamunda. The two men agreed to further enhance the friendly bilateral relations in the areas of Defence and Security and had the opportunity to exchange views on international and regional developments.
