The Minister of National Defence, Mr Alkiviadis Stefanis, participated in the NATO Ministers of Defence Meeting, as well as in the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), which took place in Brussels from 15 June to 16 June 2023.
In the context of his interventions at the Meeting, the Minister of National Defence Mr Stefanis welcomed Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty and expressed his conviction that Sweden will also be present as a member of the Alliance in the forthcoming Summit Meeting in Vilnius.
As regards the war in Ukraine, both in the context of the Meeting and of the Contact Group, he stressed that the need to reinforce the Ukrainian armed forces is still imperative, whereas he highlighted that our country will keep on providing all military assistance possible for as long as it may be required. At the same time, it preserves its readiness to actively contribute to the huge work conducted by the International Community to rebuild Ukraine.
In connection with NATO’s defence reinforcement and deterrence, he raised the importance of a 360-degree approach, by emphasising the multifaceted contribution of our country to the Alliance and the key importance of the Port of Alexandroupolis for the security of NATO’s Southeastern Flank.
The Minister highlighted that the Alliance’s steadfast commitment to collective defence, as stipulated in article 5 of the NATO Treaty, as well as its political will to protect its members, pursuant to the founding principles and values and the respect of International Law, is of vital importance.
He also mentioned that the NATO Centre for the Protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructure will contribute to the countering of threats violating International Law, the Law of the Sea and the UN Charter.
In addition, the Minister stressed that Greece supports the NATO Action Plan for the increase of the defence industrial production capacity. He noted, however, that initiatives and activities in support of the defence industry must be inclusive and based on objective criteria, in order to ensure the required participation of all defence industries from the countries of the Alliance that can contribute to the collective effort.
In the context of the talks on the new commitment of the Allies for investments in the field of Defence, the Minister reiterated that Greece fulfils its Alliance obligations retaining its defence expenditures over the limit of 2% of the GDP and the investments of the acquisition of weapon systems, Research and Development over 20%.
The Minister also participated in the signing ceremony for the modification of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative-MAWI, due to the joining of four new Allies to it (Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark and Luxemburg).
Furthermore, bilateral meetings were conducted with the Defence Ministers of Turkey Mr Yaşar Güler, of the United Kingdom Mr Ben Wallace, of Estonia Mr Hanno Pevkur and of Italy Mr Guido Crosetto, during which, issues of mutual interest were discussed.
The Minister conducted brief meetings with the Defence Ministers of the United States Mr Lloyd Austin, of Germany Mr Boris Pistorius, of Ukraine Mr Oleksii Reznikov and with SACEUR General Christopher Cavoli.
The Greek National Defence Minister stated the following: “To serve our Homeland vehemently, as well as our national interests, we are obligated to establish, enhance and preserve communication channels, as well as relations of mutual respect and friendship, for the benefit of progress and prosperity”.
