Dendias from Kastoria: Achilles’ Shield Launches – The Best Will Wear the Uniform

In a speech with a strong political undertone, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, speaking from Kastoria, emphasized the beginning of a new era for the Armed Forces, highlighting incentives to attract the “best minds” of the new generation of officers and non-commissioned officers.

“We must motivate young talent to wear the honorable uniform of the Greek Armed Forces,” he stressed, announcing a holistic program that improves both daily life and operational efficiency of personnel.

Agenda 2030 and Achilles’ Shield

Mr. Dendias presented Agenda 2030, a strategy that focuses not only on weapon systems but also on raising the living standards of service members. Through this program, personnel will gain access to:

• Free housing in locations they did not select.
• Support for new military families, including nurseries and maternity clinics.
• More affordable access to goods through the military supply network.
• Support for retirees, including career transition assistance or supported living arrangements.

At the same time, the Minister emphasized the need to transform the Greek defense system into a “knowledge and information processing machine”, covering five domains: land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.

Political dimension: Incentives and strategy

Beyond its technical aspects, Dendias’ speech carried a strong political dimension. The goal is to promote personnel loyal to the state and governing party policies, using incentives that combine social welfare with strategic defense objectives.

Notably, Kastoria’s selection as the venue is symbolic: border security and local support add political value to the Minister’s presence.

The New Era of Defense

The Minister concluded that “we live in times of transition,” where the traditional view of a capable military is no longer sufficient. A comprehensive strategy is needed, combining technology, human resources, and quality-of-life improvements to ensure Greece can defend its territorial and constitutional boundaries in the 21st century.

Greek defense is entering a new phase with enhanced personnel incentives, technological upgrades, and social support, while the political dimension demonstrates that these measures are closely linked to the government’s consolidation of influence in sensitive border regions.

Sources: National Defense – Statements by Nikos Dendias, Kastoria event, 15 February 2026