Greek Patriot missiles in Saudi Arabia protected every EU and global citizen, says Dendias – Opposition fires back, claiming involvement in war

The interception of Iranian missiles by the Greek Patriot battery operating successful Saudi Arabia has sparked beardown reactions and accusations from the full opposition. Nikos Dendias responded indirectly to these claims.

“It proves the effectiveness of our equipped forces. I americium precise arrogant of the level of Greece’s equipped forces,” the Defense Minister said portion speaking astatine the 4th East Macedonia-Thrace Forum successful Alexandroupoli.

He explained that Greece was invited by the Saudi government. “What we are doing successful the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is protecting each EU and planetary citizen, arsenic the terms of lipid is precise important for our livelihood,” helium emphasized.

Dendias besides noted that the Iranian missiles intercepted by the Greek Patriots successful Saudi Arabia were 3 times faster than different missiles. “We are talking astir speeds of 4,000 km per hour. In the future, we whitethorn request to look different missiles with speeds, for example, of 7,000 km per hour,” helium added meaningfully.

At the aforesaid time, parliamentary representatives and MPs from PASOK, SYRIZA, KKE, Hellenic Solution, New Left, Niki, and Course of Freedom collectively fired criticisms astatine the authorities and the Minister of National Defense, arguing that the interception of hostile missiles constitutes Greek subject engagement successful the war.

It should beryllium recalled that the ratification of subject practice agreements and the strategical confederation with Saudi Arabia, successful July 2024, had been approved not lone by ND but besides by SYRIZA and PASOK.

Mihalis Katrinis, liable for defence astatine PASOK, stated that “the Minister of National Defense boasts and overemphasizes the information that 2 Iranian ballistic missiles were changeable down by a Greek Patriot artillery stationed successful Saudi Arabia and operated by Greek subject personnel,” adding: “Apparently, the authorities does not recognize that this incident, and adjacent much truthful Mr. Dendias’ statement, constitutes Greece’s engagement successful the equipped conflict, thing the Prime Minister had excluded. The world is one: on with the 2 Iranian missiles, the government’s communicative of non-involvement (direct oregon indirect) of Greece successful the warfare was besides changeable down, a presumption that PASOK had supported from the start.”

SYRIZA person Sokratis Famellos spoke successful Parliament of “practical involvement” and called for the Patriot artillery and subject unit to beryllium returned to Greece. From KKE, Nikos Karathanasopoulos said, “It was cynically revealed that the artillery went to support ARAMCO’s interests. The Minister of National Defense admitted that Greece is progressive and participating successful the imperialist warfare against Iran.”

Alexis Charitsis, person of New Left, noted that “Mr. Dendias astir celebrated the alarming improvement (i.e., the interception of hostile missiles)” and called for the Ministry of National Defense enactment to look earlier Parliament to supply information.

Hellenic Solution person Kyriakos Velopoulos besides spoke of Greece’s indirect engagement successful the Middle East war, adding: “Iran has said that anyone who bombs them volition beryllium punished. What are you doing?”

Finally, Georgia Kefala, parliamentary typical of Course of Freedom, besides spoke astir Greece’s involvement, calling connected the authorities to clarify whether Iran has expressed immoderate concerns implicit the rocket interception.