Dendias: Changes in military service – Turkey expands its list of demands

The Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, addressed the restructuring of the armed forces and aspects of foreign policy within the framework of geopolitical shifts.

Among other announcements, he revealed changes to military service, advocated a creative approach to armament, highlighted the challenges posed by Turkey’s expanding agenda, and underscored the need for multifaceted strategic alliances.

Speaking at the conference “Metapolitefsi 1974–2024: 50 Years of Greek Foreign Policy” organized by the Council for International Relations, the Delphi Economic Forum, and TO VIMA newspaper, Mr. Dendias provided a comprehensive review of the past and outlined the challenges facing Greece in the fields of foreign policy and defense.

“Our EU and NATO Membership Was Not Always Certain”

“Our participation in the EU and NATO was not always guaranteed,” Dendias stated, recalling earlier disagreements among Greek political parties on these matters. He also mentioned the “Thessaloniki Agenda 2003” for the Balkans and the successful accession of Cyprus to the EU, describing these developments as “strategic consensus decisions that shaped our course.”

Military Service and Armament

Regarding the Armed Forces, Mr. Dendias emphasized that “we must develop anti-drone capabilities and establish a defense shield.” He described creating a missile wall over the Aegean as a “more economical solution compared to traditional approaches” and called for a “creative approach to armament.” Referring to the Aegean, he questioned, “Is it unreasonable to want to build a missile wall?” while adding that without creative thinking, progress would be impossible.

He further announced changes to military service scheduled for the first half of 2025, highlighting new training methods, updated uniforms, and revised procedures.

“The role of the hard-core security provider—the Armed Forces—has become immensely significant,” Dendias stressed, noting that a comprehensive reform of this area is overdue. He emphasized that “21st-century armed forces cannot be caretakers of useless, scattered camps throughout the country.” Instead, they should focus on cybersecurity and provide disaster relief capabilities, as demonstrated during recent events in Thessaly. “The critical point, however, is to completely transform the culture,” he added.

In this context, Dendias announced plans to introduce a new defense structure soon, noting that “Napoleonic-style force structures are outdated, as demonstrated by the war in Ukraine.”

On defense innovation, he mentioned the Greek effort named ELKAK, admitting it’s “nothing original; we’re copying it.” He noted that in the first competition on countering drone swarms, “the Greek ecosystem provided 141 proposals, 41 of which were deemed exceptionally serious.”

Dendias insisted that the Armed Forces must follow the “Agenda 2030” to fulfill their role and argued for a multidimensional approach to foreign policy that aligns with global developments. For instance, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will influence Hellenism’s future rights. Additionally, he argued, “We must pay attention to Sub-Saharan Africa unless we decide that migration is no longer an issue.”

On Turkey

Concerning Turkey, Dendias noted, “Ankara’s divergence from its European trajectory became evident in the early 2010s.” He emphasized that “if Turkey had accepted UNCLOS, most problems would have been resolved.”

He also warned that “Turkey is gradually expanding its list of claims against our homeland” but maintained that dialogue with Turkey must always involve addressing its unacceptable positions, such as the casus belli.

Maritime Challenges and Strategic Agreements

Dendias also discussed the attempted maritime encirclement of Greece through Turkey’s relations with Egypt under the Morsi administration and the Turkey-Libya Memorandum. He described Greece’s subsequent agreement with Egypt as an “exceptionally beneficial compromise” that nullified Turkey’s arguments about Greece’s lack of seriousness.

He highlighted the multidimensional strategy of Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s first government, which focused on bilateral agreements with countries such as France, the U.S., and the UAE while strengthening ties with Israel and Bahrain. “We developed a complex strategic framework that transcends the Turkocentric model of the past,” Dendias stated.

“Our election to the UN Security Council was one of its fruits,” he added. However, he acknowledged the government’s second term operates in a chaotic environment marked by two severe wars—one in Ukraine and one in the Middle East.

Dendias also expressed concerns about Greece’s demographic challenges, warning that the country risks becoming a “nation of elderly people.” He stated that Greece must welcome populations who adopt Greek culture and traditions.

He noted that Greece’s population, projected to shrink to 7 million in the 21st century, poses a security risk, as a minimal threshold is necessary for the armed forces. “The army is a citizens’ army—that is our tradition,” Dendias reminded, referencing the concept of the armed citizen defending their homeland. He reiterated that reforms in military service will address these concerns by 2025, introducing new staffing, structures, and uniforms.

Dendias emphasized the importance of protecting Greek monuments abroad, especially Orthodox ones, while maintaining a strong presence in the Western Balkans.

“The country must have a clear policy for safeguarding our monuments,” he noted, stressing the need for vigilance even with allied nations. He expressed hope that soon, a Foreign Minister will sign the agreement to refer the Greece-Albania dispute to The Hague, which he described as “a model for what we propose to Turkey, though they continuously refuse.

In his closing remarks, Dendias referenced the Peloponnesian War: “Justice matters only when there is power to enforce it.” He concluded by stating, “I do not aspire for my homeland to forgive and forget.”

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