Nikos Dendias: “Revisionism is not acceptable in the 21st century”

In recent geopolitical developments and current issues the Minister of National Defence mentioned, in an article in the special edition “Turning Points” of euro2day.gr and the New York Times. At the same time, Nikos Dendias spoke about revisionism, the operation ” Shields” and the two axes on which defence policy is based. “We are indeed living in a time of great geopolitical change, characterized by great liquidity and predictability. Only in our wider region are there two conflicts with thousands of dead and wounded, uniforms and civilians. The first conflict concerns the Russian attack on Ukraine and the second Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, a few months ago, and Israel’s subsequent reaction,” he stressed. “At the same time, new challenges are constantly emerging. Challenges that need collective treatment. Terrorism, cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, the tooling of migration, climate change, organised crime, extremism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, human trafficking, while Artificial Intelligence puts us before young, “promethean” people, dilemmas,” stressed the Minister of National Defence. The two axes As Greece said, against all these changes, threats and challenges, conventional or hybrid, react at two different levels in my area of responsibility: “First, it takes all necessary measures to meet its Armed Forces challenges of times. In this direction, it forms the “Agenta 2030″ for the complete reorganization of the structure and operation of the Greek Armed Forces. Its goal, an organizationally modern, flexible and operationally effective scheme. In the context of this Agenda, inter alia, the establishment of two-part units for Defence and Civil Protection is envisaged, with a view to helping the state mechanism to address the consequences of natural disasters, whose frequency has increased due to the climate crisis.” ‘In parallel, it shall update its equipment programme, in a way that takes into account the lessons of Ukraine, Caucasus and the Middle East, the country’s technological developments and budgetary capabilities. It also promotes the development of technologically advanced solutions, effective and with a better cost-benefit ratio, as well as the creation of an innovation ecosystem, which will finance the production of instruments that the Armed Forces need while strengthening the Greek defence industry and the country’s economy.” “Second, it exploits defence diplomacy and strengthens its position as a stabilising factor, having regional cooperation as a key component of its policy. In this direction Greece takes advantage of its strategic role in the region, as a member of NATO and the EU, and of the expansion of its alliances in the government of Mitsotakis. I would like to remind you of the defence cooperation agreements that I had the honour of signing as Foreign Minister with the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as well as the AEZ delimitation agreements with Italy and Egypt. Our country’s aim is to always act as a security and stability factor in the Balkans and the Mediterranean, but also in the wider region.” “The goal of Greece is also, in terms of the European Union, to promote its geopolitical role as a bridge with the Balkans and the Middle East. The creation of the EU. is the most successful example of a voluntary union of states in history. It is time to highlight its role in ensuring peace and security,” he noted. “In addition, as he said, “there has always been a purpose of the European Union to safeguard the common values and principles, fundamental interests, independence and integrity of the Union, to strengthen its security, to maintain peace and to strengthen international security, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the objectives of the Paris Charter, including those relating to external borders.” ‘It must therefore guarantee security and stability not only in itself as an international entity, but also in the States that make it up. That is why it is now necessary that the EU finally acquire its own autonomous defence arm. A defence arm that will cooperate with NATO and the US within the Euro-Atlantic framework, but will also strengthen the defence self-sufficiency of Europe,” noted Mr. Operation ASPIDS Referring to the Operation ” Shields”, he pointed out that in the creation of which Greece took the lead and has taken over its land management, for the safety of navigation in the Red Sea, it is an important step towards this goal, then Operation IRINI, also under Greek name, in the Mediterranean.” “Let me remind you that by adopting the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, the EU is promoting its willingness to play an important role as a deterrence, security and stability factor. May I also remind you that in January 2023, with the third EU and NATO Joint Declaration, cooperation was extended to new areas other than defence, such as tackling climate change and new technologies,” he stressed. In conclusion, he noted that the most critical turning point today is the reaction to revisionism, whose practices pose a greatest threat to the global security system. “The international community must therefore say that revisionism is not acceptable in the 21st century, wherever it manifests itself and by anyone,” he said. “It should be made clear that regardless of the practical adjustments to the tectonic changes that are taking place, respect for International Law, International Law of the Sea and good neighbourly rules should continue to be the dominant principle governing transnational relations,” he stressed. “For Greece, this respect is and will be the “Holy Gospel” in its relations with the other states of the region and so requires its neighbours. It is obvious that without these principles and given the major changes and the new challenges, the current international security system is in danger of turning into a chaos. A possibility that we should prevent, giving in time our answers to the great questions of times,” the Minister of National Defence commented.