Evangelos Mytilinaeos, CEO of METLEN, emphasized the need for stronger integration between Greece’s armed forces and its domestic defense industry. Speaking at the inauguration of M Technologies’ new industrial facility — part of METLEN’s broader plan to develop a national defense industrial hub — he stressed the strategic importance of building a robust, sovereign Greek defense industry.
A Strategic Imperative, Not Just Economic Gain
Mytilinaeos stated that “the time has come for the Armed Forces and Greek industry to move much closer than ever before — as is the case in all developed countries.” He underscored that industrial strength is not merely an economic advantage but “a necessary strategic asset and a prerequisite for social cohesion.”
He noted that nations with strong manufacturing bases, technical expertise, and innovation capacity are not only more prosperous but also more resilient and influential in shaping global developments.
An Integrated Industrial Ecosystem
The new facility forms part of a wider industrial strategy by METLEN that unifies energy, metals, recycling, and defense into a single, integrated production ecosystem. “This is METLEN’s true competitive advantage,” Mytilinaeos said.
For him and the METLEN Group, the unit is more than a commercial venture — it is a core component of a growing defense-industrial ecosystem designed not only to compete globally but also to contribute directly to Greece’s national defense capabilities.
A New Era of Security and Reassessment
Mytilinaeos highlighted that we are entering a period where security has returned to the center of economic and political decision-making. With global balances shifting at an unprecedented pace — and geopolitical developments, emerging threats, and realignments in international alliances reshaping the landscape — countries, economies, and societies must redefine their priorities.
“Greece, Europe, and the entire planet face a historic challenge,” he said. “We must therefore become better prepared, more self-reliant, and more capable of safeguarding our interests in an environment where traditional certainties have eroded. Supply chains, markets, and partnerships are being reconfigured — revealing both new opportunities and new vulnerabilities.”