Dendias unveils new Aegean defense doctrine with drones and missiles, sends message to Turkey

In a speech with clear strategic weight, Greece’s Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias outlined a new framework for safeguarding the Aegean Sea, emphasizing advanced technology, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

Speaking at the International Maritime Security Conference at the Eugenides Foundation, he made the government’s intentions explicit: “We will protect the Aegean far better than we have until today,” he said, describing a model that integrates missiles, unmanned surface vessels, and underwater drones.

From traditional fleets to “smart” systems

Dendias pointed to a major restructuring of Greece’s armed forces, where conventional naval power is reinforced by next-generation capabilities: smaller, agile vessels, autonomous systems, and satellite surveillance designed to enhance rapid response and situational awareness.

He highlighted the acquisition of advanced frigates from Naval Group, as well as Italian-built platforms, stressing that: “This is not just an upgrade—it’s an entirely different class of ship,” capable of carrying strategic missile systems.

At the same time, he introduced the “Achilles’ Shield” concept, a comprehensive defense architecture spanning sea, land, air, cyber, and space domains.

Global chokepoints and rising risks

Nikos Dendias placed Greece’s strategy within a broader global context, referencing volatile maritime hotspots such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

He stressed that freedom of navigation is not an abstract principle but a critical economic factor: “It affects all of us,” he noted, linking maritime security directly to inflation and global trade stability.

Sharp criticism of Turkey’s legal stance

The minister also took aim at the maritime claims of Turkey, accusing Ankara of misinterpreting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“If a first-year law student wrote this, they would fail,” he remarked pointedly, reiterating Greece’s position that international maritime law remains non-negotiable.

Deterrence with realism

The core message of the speech centers on balance: strong deterrence combined with smarter resource allocation.

Greece, Dendias emphasized, is not seeking to overextend, but to adopt realistic, efficient strategies aligned with its size and strategic needs—while leveraging its status as the world’s leading maritime nation in commercial shipping.

As global sea lanes grow increasingly contested, Athens is investing in a new security architecture—placing the Aegean at its core and technology at the forefront.

Source: pagenews.gr