The Minister of National Defence Mr. N. Dendias attends “DEFEA CONFERENCE 2026”

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The Minister of National Defence Mr. N. Dendias attends "DEFEA CONFERENCE 2026"

May 5, 2026

Today, Tuesday 5 May 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias attended the beginning of the works of the "DEFEA CONFERENCE 2026" Conference, held at the exposition centre Metropolitan Expo, at the Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos".

In the margins of the Conference, the Minister of National Defence met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Cristodoulidis, and the NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska.

During the Conference's works, Mr. Dendias had a discussion with journalist Pierros Tzanetakos, concerning national priorities and developments at the international level in the Defence sector.

The text of the discussion follows:

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

Good morning. It is a great joy and honour for me to be talking to the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Dendias today. I will enter the conversation directly, Minister. I think we all realise we are in the midst of a radical paradigm shift in geopolitics, defence, diplomacy.

Two wars, in the Middle East and Ukraine, with no end in sight, with developmentson the field creating ever more novel data. We are facing asymmetrical threats, we now have the primacy - if we so may term it - of technology. We have information networks, the particular importance of Space. And the question which follows, Mr. Dendias, is whether the Armed Forces, and the country in general, are ready to adapt to the needs of this new age, or as many fear, will Greece enter a vortex, grasping at developments.

Will the "Agenda 2030" suffice, and what extra changes may we see in the Armed Forces?

NIKOS DENDIAS

Mr. Tzanetakos, let me initially thank you for the opportunity. Let me say how happy I am, that today at DEFEA, the works opened with the statement of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, who presides over the European Council. Consequently, his presence here is a particular honour, both for Greece, and for DEFEA.

It is our great honour to have the Commissioner Andrius Kubilius here, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, the whole of the leadership of our Country's Armed Forces. This demonstrates how important of a forum DEFEA is.

I now arrive at the question. It is a logical question. Are we capable of responding to this barrage of developments? To these changes? For I always say - and I will repeat here - we have to change everything in order to be capable (of responding). Besides our principles and values, everything else must change. Everything we know, everything which exists, is not a given. Yet, I think we are on a very good track to do so, and this is what the "Agenda 2030" implies. If you ask me now, are we already there, have we achieved it, I will answer you no. That is why we have named it the "Agenda 2030". Otherwise we would have named it the Agenda 2026.

There is, a course, however, a dynamic course. For things are transforming, as are we. Thus, we should constantly re-adapt, have a broader, more heightened vision, yet we are already in a different reality.

An example of which, and it is a great joy to express it in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, is that the Hellenic Armed Forces have gained traits of speed and agility which have never before seen in their history. Never before seen, since there was no need, the Armed Forces themselves were not bad.

Mr. Tzanetakos, I gave the Hellenic Air Force the order to cover the airspace of the Republic of Cyprus against the threats from Iran, on 12:00 at noon of the day the order was given. At 19:00 in the evening, Greek aircraft, alongside the support team were already at "Andreas Papandreou" Airbase. The same order was given to the Hellenic Navy, at 12:00 at noon. At 22:30 at night, the Greek frigates put to sea for the Eastern Mediterranean. For the very same threat, the British Royal Navy - if I recall well - needed more than 20 days to send a frigate, project power, in order to cover the bases at Akrotiri, in the Republic of Cyprus.

You will allow me to be proud over this, and I have directly congratulated the Hellenic Armed Forces on their achievement, and capability also, of producing thousands of drones each year, in the plants of our Armed Forces. This occurred in a space of two years, the capability to field mobile drone production units, to field an anti-drone system of Greek production. All the above were things, which if I had told you several years ago, sitting in this very chair, you would have considered me an imaginative, maybe even a quaint Minister.

Yet all of this has been realised as we speak. Have we finished? God forbid, we have a long way ahead. Many more things to change. Many more things to absorb and observe, yet I think we are in good condition and moving apace.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

You beat me to it with what you said about the deployment of Greek forces in Cyprus. Indeed, by general consensus, it was rapid. Obviously, the objective was facing the threat from the war in the Middle East, Iran namely. Nevertheless, we may say that the Armed Forces are working, and I also include the Patriot system in the conversation, a deterrent against other threats. I speak of none other than Turkey. Besides, Turkey is the one who reacted to these moves. Will it remain Minister? Will this configuration remain? Obviously, I do not want you to tell me, and reveal the operational plans of the Armed Forces, but one understands, if you may, that a new defensive and geopolitical status quo has been created, which, as you know better than me, is hard to overwrite.

NIKOS DENDIAS

You will allow me to say the following, which is very simple, and I think the President of the Republic of Cyprus addressed directly previously. Which is the framework wherein all these occurred? The legal framework, or if you wish, the values framework. This framework was article 42, par. 7 of the Treaty on European Union. There exists European solidarity.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

So it was a de facto application of article 42, par. 7, right?

NIKOS DENDIAS

Obviously. Obviously. Of course, we are connected to the Republic of Cyprus, with bonds of kinship, I will not mince my words.

Cyprus is a kindred state, the Cypriots are our brothers. Yet, there is an institutional framework. This was the institutional framework wherein we moved.

We are not creating ad hoc anti-turkish coalitions. And as I said two days since, we do not exercise a turco-centric policy, by God. We do what is needed each time, in order to defend Hellenism's major interests within the existing framework, the major interests of Europe, of our people's.

From that point onwards, I do not determine the way our operational deployment unfolds. This is based on my advice and the suggestions of the Military leadership, which I, in turn, if I accept them, suggest to the Governmental National Security Council and to the country's Prime Minister. I therefore conclude, do not think that we need to vie everything through a turco-centric lens. Greece exercises a rounded policy, towards every direction, and will continue to.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

Let me remind, Minister, that the Turkish F-16s on the illegally Occupied Territories are there as an answer. I would like to say that the moves on the chessboard are occurring, and therefore I imagine this fact has its importance.

NIKOS DENDIAS

Mr. Tzanetakos, we do not define ourselves according to others. Turkey may say what it likes, it is Turkey's concern. It will be neither the first, nor the last time that Turkey has broken International Law. Yet, I have no intent, to be frank with you, to bring a purely European answer to a challenge coming from Iran and Hezbollah, and transfer it within the framework of other differences. We all know that Turkey illegally occupies Cypriot territory. First and foremost the President of the Republic of Cyprus, in attendance here, as all us Europeans know. This illegal situation must cease and be over with sometime.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

It will be hard not to return to the topic of Turkey, I will see if any time remains at the end. Let us move on to innovation, a crucial topic in the discussion. I would like to ask you if you are satisfied by the heretofore task performed by the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation, in which I know you are invested, and which I know to be a personal choice of yours, and which you and your staff in general promote. And if you are satisfied by the level of newly founded, innovative businesses which participate in the Hellenic Defence ecosystem.

Yesterday I was talking to a market executive, and he was telling me we are standing before a huge opportunity, that of Greece ceasing to be a client and of others becoming clients of Greece and our own companies. Will we ever reach this point?

NIKOS DENDIAS

These are many questions. First of all, the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation. I am proud of it. I love the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation, it is my own brainchild. It was a new reality for Greece. A new reality which brought a structural change about. I had the opportunity to discuss the same thing yesterday with the Commissioner yesterday, and the Deputy Secretary General this morning. What does the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation do? It answers questions which the Hellenic Armed Forces put to the Hellenic Defence Ecosystem. This is what it is trying to ease. What did we use to do? "We used to say, I want to buy this product". Now we say that no more. The Armed Forces say that no more. They say, "I want
that problem solved. What solutions do you have?" This is a difference of mentality, a difference of thought process. It is not the difference of a process of acquisition, it
Thus, in this framework, the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation is bringing about a huge change in the way we think, in the way we operate, we communicate. I mean the way we, the Armed Forces on the one hand, and the ecosystem on the other communicate.

Now, does it need more development, more steps? Of course. Yet, as one proudly witnesses their child growing up, educating itself, so do I want the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation to grow up, and mainly, solve a huge and basic contradiction. Which, truth be told, we have not yet solved. Which is this basic contradiction? The Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation is an entity of the Greek public sector. The Greek public sector, as in all countries worldwide, has procedures, very strict ones, especially when it is a question of disbursing public money. On the other hand, we are facing a new reality, which is galloping, running ahead, which changes by the day. Our procedures were not made for facing this fast-paced reality.

In order, therefore, to find a balance, and simultaneously safeguard public money, while allowing innovation to keep up to pace with the changes in reality, not staying behind. What innovation would this be, if what it covers is a need which has already been overtaken by developments, and extra needs have been created?

The Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation therefore, is called upon to respond to this great challenge. And not only the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation alone. All state companies, such as the Hellenic Aerospace Industry need to respond to this great challenge. For, if they do not, they are in danger of responding to yesterday's, not today's questions.

This, Mr. Tzanetakos, is where the next challenge lies. The challenge we have to face before 2030. As we mentioned, of course, everything needs to change.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

I think you have recorded the critique concerning the famous 25% concerning the prediction, that is, the share of participation, at 25% of Greek businesses in every armaments procurement contract. I would like to ask, are there really companies, which are capable of undertaking so large shares, say the Dome, or the "Shield of Achilles" or the frigates? And, perhaps, are the small and medium sized enterprises, who ought to be the motor force "elbowed out" to put it simply? For, we know what the big players are capable of, but in order for this piece of the market to operate, capital has to move in that direction.

NIKOS DENDIAS

You asked a very good question, and I liked your use of a "marketplace" expression, to be "elbowed out". No, they will not be "elbowed out", so long as they choose to be "on the inside". Let me explain myself.

The 25% share was institutionalised by this Government, it did not hitherto exist. Of course, it is not legally binding. Why is it not legally binding? In order to maintain flexibility. It is, however, a first, introductory stage which did not exist previously, a stage which requires from those we procure, some specific products, which, either we ourselves are incapable of producing, either their production would be unprofitable to us.

For I do not believe the future will come from big platforms, but "smart" platforms, and until we arrive at the level of complete capability, we are obliged to borrow the technology and "know how".

This is what the 25% does, which we are implementing. We are implementing it in all programmes, albeit flexibly as we said, more or less, but the 25% is a median price.

The thing, however, I will not countenance, yet if you may, I will sound a more pleasant note, is that small and medium sized enterprises are incapable. They are capable, Mr. Tzanetakos. They are so, for reality has changed. The solutions to tomorrow's problems will not come from yesteryear's "dinosaurs", they will come from new innovative businesses, which will look reality in the face, and find solutions, inconceivable to us as we speak. Concerning this problem, the Greek character, an active one, not one of cooperation of great structures, may offer answers.

The drones, anti-drones, autonomous marine systems, autonomous submarine systems, autonomous terrain systems, the modern Fighter's equipment, the ships which will change form as time passes, moving more towards the autonomous, and less towards what we have in mind, like the big ship with a large crew, with cannons, and all the rest a child would have in mind if called upon to draw a ship. All the above will start both being, and not being the main combat instruments. As well as today's wars, missiles, ballistic missiles used for anti-missile purposes, the list of our new reality, opening up before us is immense.

And in this new reality, not only Greece, but small countries, which are agile, and can operate while moving fast, are have the advantage. The advantage does not lie with yesteryear's immense operations, following procedures invented by humanity at the beginning of the 20 th Century. You know, when the first "4T" was produced, the American car, it was produced by thousands of workers in an assembly line each placing a part, until at the end of the line a car came through. This is over, it is not like that anymore. All is produced by 3D printers, which can be reprogrammed.

So, small to medium sized Greek enterprises, if they want to participate, have a huge advantage, as do all small and medium sized European Union enterprises, a fact which is further aided by our culture, our open mindedness. If you will, the democratic regime helps, the Renaissance spirit helps, the capability of man to freely shape his future, to not obey rules blindly, as set out, with no free room to manoeuvre. I am optimistic concerning the future, Mr. Tzanetakos, so long as wecreate the infrastructure which will provide for the existence of this future.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

The sums, we talk of, however, Minister, are considerable. Maths is not my strong point, but 25% of the 30 billion which has been earmarked for the "Agenda 2030" is a considerable sum, and may set the market in motion, by general consensus.

NIKOS DENDIAS

Let me say the following, this sum you calculated, which is more than six, is just the base. It is the base, and according to our estimates, more than 10 billion may be absorbed by Greek capabilities. That is, we are approaching 30-33%. Yet, I reiterate, I hope the Hellenic Ecosystem will pleasantly surprise us, and will be able to absorb more.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

We hope so. To return to current events, there is an ongoing discussion by the day, concerning the deployment of a naval force to the Straits of Hormuz. I am talking of a French and British initiative, with about 50 countries co-signing, amongst which is Greece.

I gather from everyone's statements, the Prime Minister's, Mr. Gerapetritis', yours, that we have reached this point, the question is: Do we have the capabilities of going there, operationally? Which are the requirements, the terms for Greece to be in Hormuz, and - if you will - why should Greece be in Hormuz?

NIKOS DENDIAS

First question, can we? The answer for Greece is the easiest for anyone or almost anyone else. We are 200 miles, 300 miles further already, we have been operating out of Djibouti for years, in a threatening environment, in an environment of missile strikes, drones. Greek frigates have shot down drones, and therefore we are familiar with this dangerous environment of the region.

Having gone over this point, let us be clear and on the same page. First of all, freedom of navigation. For Greece, a great naval power, it is of the utmost importance, not simply important, it constitutes part of the International Law of the Sea. You know that for Greece, the International Law of the Sea is like the "Holy Gospel".

Second, do we have the capability? Of course we do.

Third, we have the institutional obligation to protect our ships, and mainly, and above all, to protect the crews of our ships, the human lives and, therefore, under specific conditions, precisely to be determined following a specific mandate, a specific analysis, alongside our European partners and allies, alongside our American allies. I repeat, under the condition that an operational framework has explicitly been formulated. We are not in the age of "skirmishes" any more. It is alien to our mentality.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

Therefore someone needs to have the mandate, someone needs to lead the operation, as was the case with ASPIDES, and the duties and responsibilities have to be assigned.

NIKOS DENDIAS

There have to be minutely defined specifications, and of course, the procedures according to the internal legal order must be followed. We need a decision by the Governmental National Security Council, possibly also a conference of the Greek political system, which, I think understands the enormous importance the application of the International Law of the Sea has for Greece.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

Could such a choice operate as a pathway towards the improvement of the Euro- American relations, which, by general consensus, are worsening by the day?

NIKOS DENDIAS

Allow me to say the following. It is not me, but the Commissioner, and the President of the Council over here, who are much more competent to talk about Euro- American relations.

If you are asking me about Greek-American relations, I do not think they have worsened at all. I think they are at a very good level. You have also heard this remark coming from the lips of the American President.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

Well, I will close, I cannot ignore the temptation.

NIKOS DENDIAS

There is a glint in your eyes, Mr. Tzanetakos.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

I had mentioned Turkey to you. If you recall, on the day of the earthquakes we travelled to Attaleia, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs you met with Mr. Çavuçoglu, in situ, on a rather emotional journey, I would say, given all we witnessed. You have talked of that time as a "window of opportunity" which could open, following the earthquakes, in order to perceptibly improve Greek-Turkish relations, and potentially begin a constructive future conversation on the dispute we recognise.

What has since changed? It is true that on the other shore of the Aegean you are now known as the "most uncompromising", or let us say "tough" Minister of the Mitsotakis Government. Has something changed?

NIKOS DENDIAS

Let us rewind. It was indeed, a touching moment with my friend Mevlut Çavuçoglu. I think that Greek society as a whole, then, as well as throughout time, has stood at the side of Turkish society at "bad moments". I think that Turkish society also stands alongside us emotionally, when we are struck by disaster and bad moments. I do not think the two societies have inimical feelings towards each other.

As far as I am concerned, to be frank, the only one who at times calls me "uncompromising" is my wife. I think I have always declared, and will continue doing so, that in my opinion, there is a window, as well as a viable path we can follow for the resolution of the Greek-Turkish dispute. For Greece has not laid claims to anything from Turkey, anything Turkish, according to either international law or any other rational legal analysis on earth.

It rests on the other side of the Aegean. It rests with the Turkish government, for I have already told you my opinion on the Turkish people. I believe the Turkish people have no dispute, and on the contrary have a friendly disposition toward us.

It therefore rests with the Turkish government to realise that the operational framework in the 21 st century cannot but be a framework which refers to International Law, and the International Law of the Sea.

I will not talk about the illegal occupation of a part of a European State. The President is here to talk about it. It would be an "encroachment". In any case, this demonstrates how often the Turkish approach differs from what is acceptable as just, tolerable, sufferable.

If Turkey so chooses, I honestly tell you, I believe and will continue to do so, that the Greek-Turkish dispute will easily be resolved. Easily. With mutual benefit to us and Turkey, huge benefit, an "explosion" of development from the dynamic which the resolution of this dispute will bring about.

Yet, of course, this is not possible when opinions such as "we will come over at night" are expressed. Let us also be clear on this. You will allow me to repeat a phrase spoken two days ago by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed: "Let our enemies beware, for we have thick skin, and bitter flesh if bitten".

Therefore, we are ready to defend what we are institutionally mandated to according to the Constitution, and sworn to do so. Yet there is an ever open door if Turkey wishes to meet and clasp hands.

PIERROS TZANETAKOS:

Minister, we can keep on going for long, this will suffice.

Thank you very much, let us hope we have another opportunity.

NIKOS DENDIAS

Thank you. You are welcome.

The Conference's works were attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis, the European Union Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, MP Tasos Chatzivasileiou, MP, Honorary Chief HNDGS, and admiral (ret.) Evangelos Apostolakis, the Chief HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios - Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief HAFGS, Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Chief National Guard General Staff of the Republic of Cyprus, Lieutenant General Emmanou++il Theodorou, representatives of the Chiefs of the Security Forces, the Director of DEFEA, Vasilis Barkas, the President of the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association, Anastasios Rozolis, representatives of the defence industry and others.