Nikos Dendias

An explosion erupted in the Black Sea port of Odesa on Wednesday, just before a scheduled meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite this, the meeting proceeded without disruption.

Greece, host of the headquarters of the EU operation to shield ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, hopes to play a more central role in ensuring security of the 27-nation bloc, the defense minister said.

"We have to be able to defend ourselves," Nikos Dendias told Reuters, adding that the European Union could achieve that in cooperation with NATO and other allies.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias laid out the plans to modernize the country's armed forces further on Thursday during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Dendias said that part of the military's upgrades will adhere to the United Nations' Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, adding that innovation will play a key role in its implementation.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will chair a cabinet meeting on Thursday at the Maximos Mansion.

Greece will be examining the Finnish model as it seeks to overhaul the structure of its military service, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said during a visit to the Finnish capital on Tuesday.

Greece has formally agreed to participate in and lead a European Union maritime security operation in the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Hydra frigate of the Hellenic Navy set sail on Monday night from Salamina to the Naval Station of Crete in Souda from where it will head to the Red Sea, in the framework of the Aspides (Shield) operation of the European Union to protect safe navigation to and from the Suez Canal.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias flew over the Aegean Sea on Friday in an F-16 Viper from the 340 Squadron, which is part of the Hellenic Air Force's 115th Combat Wing. He was accompanied by a formation of F-16 Viper jets.

The new Chief of the General Staff (GEETHA) Dimitris Houpis and Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Dimosthenis Grigoriadis also joined the flight.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias conveyed a message to Albania on Wednesday, urging the country to respect the European Union standards and regulations as it progresses towards EU accession.

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias will sign an agreement for Greece's accession to the NATO missile-defence project European Sky Shield initiative on Thursday in Brussels.

The Sky Shield air defense system, initiated by Germany, intends to bolster NATO's protective capacity over Europe.