Dendias: There is a whole new approach to armaments

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said that the challenge of deterrence in the Aegean is not only met with warships or fighter aircraft. It must also be countered with missile systems installed on the many islands of Greek territory. In this way we can achieve absolute deterrence both at sea and in the air. A change of philosophy is required, which also results from the lessons learned from the conflicts we see, in an interview with the Sunday edition of Kathimerini newspaper.

There is, he said "an overall new approach to armaments which we will present. Two are the main principles: Ensuring deterrence in the air and sea space of the Aegean and the perception within and outside the Armed Forces of respecting the fiscal space".

Dendias stated that "the start of negotiations for the fourth FDI is an important step in the direction of the country's defence armour" and added that "it is not the only one".

He explained that due to the economic crisis, the fleet had been largely neglected. Actions are needed to enable it to meet future security challenges and all this is done with absolute respect to the Greek people and the need to respect the margins of the fiscal space", he pointed out.

"We need to modernise the frigates that will remain in the fleet and we need to start modernising the missiles and submarines. The discussion must also begin on the new submarines required, even in a 12-14 year time horizon," Dendias underlined.

Regarding the discussions with the USA on surplus material, he emphasised that "the American side must fulfill its commitments through the Blinken letter to the Prime Minister". "In particular", he continued, "it has not met them in terms of the LCS, and there is no clear answer for the 4 C-130s. And the Bradley armored vehicles supplied required repairs in the order of 8 million each. The issue of flying tankers also remains pending."

He clarified that Greece is a credible ally for USA adding that "The US know it" . He also estimated that the US has the option "to contribute to the achievement of the goal of a technologically developed Greece, which will be one step ahead of any threat".

On the fact that Turkish officials often attack him, Dendias commented: "I am one of the politicians who believe that Greece and Turkey can find a solution to their dispute with realism but also with a concrete basis, International Law and the International Law of the Sea.