Dendias: We have to change everything, except our principles and values

The request for sweeping reforms to physique a robust home defence ecosystem was emphasized by Greece’s Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, during his keynote code astatine the CNN Greece Insights conference.

Dendias outlined an ambitious translation program nether the government’s “Agenda 2030,” describing it arsenic “a implicit alteration of everything” successful however Greece approaches defense, innovation, and strategical planning.

Defense Reform and “Agenda 2030”

Speaking to an assemblage of authorities officials, manufacture leaders, and exertion experts, Dendias stressed that Greece indispensable fundamentally rethink its defence model.

“We request businesses, talent, capital, and ideas to determination into this caller era,” helium said, adding that each aspects of defense—apart from halfway nationalist principles and values—must evolve.

From subject uniforms to bid structures and menace appraisal strategies, Dendias highlighted the request for modernization crossed the board. A cardinal benchmark of this betterment is achieving astatine slightest 25% Greek information successful defence procurement programs, ensuring not conscionable fiscal engagement but besides exertion transportation and home accumulation capabilities.

From Arms Purchases to Innovation Ecosystem

Dendias criticized Greece’s humanities attack to defence spending, noting that much than €300 cardinal has been spent implicit the decades without fostering a sustainable defence manufacture oregon innovation ecosystem.

“We treated armaments arsenic elemental purchases alternatively than opportunities for development,” helium admitted.

To code this, the Ministry is implementing a caller strategy focused connected innovation and collaboration. Central to this effort is the constitution of an Innovation Directorate wrong the Armed Forces, led by Major General Georgios Panousis. The directorate volition enactment arsenic a span betwixt the military, probe institutions, and the broader innovation ecosystem, some successful Greece and allied countries.

Role of ELKAK and Startup Innovation

A cardinal pillar of the caller defence strategy is the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation (ELKAK), led by CEO Pantelis Tzortzakis. The enactment is designed to code marketplace gaps by backing and supporting innovative defence solutions, peculiarly from startups and tiny enterprises.

Dendias highlighted ongoing initiatives, including a contention to make unmanned aboveground vessels (USVs) for the Hellenic Navy, based connected specifications provided by the military. Several projects—some confidential—have already been contracted, involving Greek companies and planetary partnerships.

Economic and Strategic Benefits

According to Dendias, the caller attack serves 3 cardinal nationalist objectives:

• Strengthening defence capabilities without excessive reliance connected overseas suppliers
• Driving economical maturation by leveraging home endowment and innovation
• Improving Greece’s commercialized balance, peculiarly successful the defence sector, wherever imports vastly transcend exports

He noted that galore defence technologies person dual-use applications, benefiting some subject and civilian sectors, portion besides offering export potential.

Strengthening International Partnerships

Dendias besides referenced Greece’s strategical defence practice with France, highlighting ongoing associated programs specified arsenic the Belharra frigates, portion of which are being constructed successful Greek shipyards. He expressed optimism that bilateral defence agreements with France would beryllium further strengthened during an anticipated sojourn by President Emmanuel Macron to Athens.

French Ambassador to Greece Laurence Auer was among the distinguished attendees, alongside elder officials, manufacture representatives, and leaders from Greece’s defence and exertion sectors.

A “New Reality” for Greek Defense

Concluding his remarks, Dendias underscored the urgency of reform, stating that Greece’s aboriginal information and economical resilience beryllium connected its quality to adapt.

“If we bash not alteration this full mode of operating, the state volition not succeed,” helium warned, portion expressing assurance that Greece tin successfully modulation into a modern, innovation-driven defence era.

The league served arsenic a level to showcase this strategical shift, signaling Greece’s intent to physique a competitive, self-reliant, and forward-looking defence industry.