The Defea 2025 (Defense Exhibition Athens) has been launched today by the Minister of National Defense today. Nikos Dendias, At a historic moment for European defense, but also the new balance of power in the Southeast Mediterranean.
The Minister of National Defense raised the defense industry, Scientific research and innovation “at the core of the National Defense Strategy of the Hellenic Republic”, explaining to “the Ministry of National Defense is recruiting the strengthening of the domestic defense industry and the domestic innovation ecosystem as a lever of economic growth”. According to this perspective, the Greek Defense Innovation Center plays a decisive role in this perspective, ELKAK, While for the first time the country has a “clean horizon of twenty years” with the introduction of long -term defense equipment planning.
National participation of 25%
At the same time, ‘our main pursuit, I said again, is her participation Greek defense industry 25% in equipment programs, “the Minister of National Defense said, adding that the ministry” is hiring the strengthening of the domestic defense industry and the domestic innovation ecosystem as a lever for economic growth and technological superiority “.
As part of this effort, we set two strategic goals: Expanding the participation of domestic defense industry in equipment Our programs and the development of a serious innovation ecosystem, “as Mr. Dendias observed, and emphatically reiterated that” the participation of the Greek Defense Industry in 25% in the equipment programs “.
Healthy defense ecosystem
However, “the strengthening of the country’s deterrent power must also be accompanied by absolute transparency. That is, from respect for the Greek people’s backdrop, “the Minister of National Defense said, stressing that” our goal, ladies and gentlemen, is strategic. It is not opportunistic. It is the creation of a healthy productive and oriented ecosystem export. ” “Not a state -run cluster of delegates and occasionally acting who at the end of the day will provide a petty financial result, but certainly opacity and corruption,” Mr Dendias added.
In the same context, “Corruption, ladies and gentlemen, is always a problem. And it is a developmental and economic problem, not just moral. Corruption not only removes resources, it makes something much worse. It leads to incorrect directions after distorting the criterion of choice, “the Minister of National Defense continued, reminding me that” Greece has spent more than 270 billion euros on equipment at today’s prices. Without the timeless not best, to say it elegant, options, this money would be enough for Greece to be export today. “
“We are ready to incorporate the capabilities offered by Rearm Europe”
At the same time, “we are ready to incorporate the possibilities offered by the European Initiative Rearm Europe,” the minister said, saying that “the ReArm Europe It is not just a European response to the challenges herein, it is a lever for strategic autonomy and solidarity in which Greece participates.
Greece is a hub of cooperation. Greece wants to be a meeting place and Defea is the perfect platform for it. So we may have exchanges of know -how. This is how we reinforce collective defense. “
“Defense spending has been a condition of our national survival for Greece. But I dare say, for the first time they are now treated as a lever for economic growth and as a place of economic cooperation with friendly countries. Defense spending can bare, if they are done properly, growth, they can create wealth, “concluded Mr Dendias.
Meeting with Christodoulides
The Director of the Defea 2025 exhibition, Vassilis Barkas, and the President of the Association of Greek Defense Material Manufacturers (SEKPY) Tasos Rosolis, also addressed greetings. On the sidelines of Defea 2025, the Minister of National Defense met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, the Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan, with whom he discussed ways to further strengthen his strategic defense and defensive defense. Lélis, with which they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide assistance to the military training of students from the Green Cape, in the context of enhancing bilateral defense relationship. General Dimitrios Houpis, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense Antonios Economou and General Manager of the Directorate -General for Political Defense & International Relations (GSPAD) also attended the meetings. Michael Spinellis.
At the ceremony opened by Defea 2025, were also present by Minister of Maritime and Island Policy Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Yiannis Kefalogiannis, Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay Development, Research and Innovation, Stavros Kalafatis, Deputy Minister of Maritime and Island Policy Stefanos Gikas, Deputy Minister of Defense of the UK, responsible for defense industry, Maria Eagle, MPs, and MPs Self -government.
Also on behalf of the military leadership was also attended by Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Dimitrios – Eleftherios Camera, Chief of the General Staff (I) Dimosthenes Grigoriadis Ioannis Bouras, as well as representatives of the Security Corps.
In detail, Mr. Dendia’s greeting:
‘Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me to welcome you today in Athens, in the heart of the eastern Mediterranean, for the official launch of the Defea 2025 International Defense Material.
An exhibition of prestige, under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense, which brings together leading stakeholders and leading defense technology businesses from around the world.
And this year, as it has already heard, it has much greater participation than ever. So I would like to thank those who participate in the exhibition.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The defense industry, scientific research, innovation are at the core of the National Defense Strategy of the Hellenic Republic.
And the Ministry of National Defense is recruiting the strengthening of the domestic defense industry and the domestic innovation ecosystem as a lever for economic growth and technological superiority.
As part of this effort, we set two strategic goals:
a. Expanding the participation of domestic defense industry in our equipment programs,
b. but also the development of a serious innovation ecosystem.
The decisive role in the second attempt is played by the Greek Defense Innovation Center, ELKAK, which complements the first year of his life.
It first links innovative ideas and innovative defensive ecosystem with the needs of the Armed Forces, through the new Division of Innovation of the Armed Forces.
It links the dynamics of academic research and research centers with modern business requirements.
There are already 10 research programs in progress, and by the end of the year it is planned to be announced.
Thus, through ELKAK, Greece is seeking presence in developments in critical areas, artificial intelligence, unmanned autonomous systems, cyberattacks, space applications.
Also in the spirit of “Agenda 2030”, the greatest reform in the history of New Greece, as the Prime Minister described, the first long -term program of defense equipment (BAE) was drawn up. It comes to cover a period in principle 12, but plus 8 years. That is, a clear horizon of twenty years. Innovative equipment programs have been planned for modern operational tools of cyber warfare, satellite systems and administration and control and control software.
The BAE, which I said is for the first time, gives the twenty years of visibility to businesses and those who want to invest in defense.
Our main goal, again, is the involvement of the Greek Defense Industry 25% in the equipment programs.
But I want to clarify something extra. Strengthening the country’s deterrent power must also be accompanied by absolute transparency. That is, from respect for the backlog of the Greek people.
Our goal, ladies and gentlemen, is strategic. It is not opportunistic. It is the creation of a healthy productive and ecosystem export. Not a state -run cluster of delegates and occasionally acting who at the end of the day will provide a minor financial result, but certainly opacity and corruption.
Corruption, ladies and gentlemen, is always a problem. And it is a developmental and economic problem, not just moral.
Corruption not only removes resources, it makes something much worse. It leads to incorrect directions as it distorts the criterion of the choice. It alienates society, the people, from the defensive effort and discourages healthy businesses and, in fact, the starters, to deal and invest in defense.
Greece has spent more than € 270 billion on equipment at today’s prices in today’s prices. Without the timeless not best, to say it elegant, options, this money would be enough for Greece to be export today.
For this reason, I have already announced a series of transparency measures that accompany the long -term equipment program. But I would like to say that the Ministry of National Defense is ready to discuss and adopt as reasonable measures indicate the opposition parties or society.
Ladies and gentlemen, Greece at European level is actively involved in the initiatives of enhancing the common defense effort.
We recognize the changing geostrategic conditions and increased deterrence and security requirements in Europe.
We are ready to incorporate the possibilities offered by the European Rearm Europe Initiative.
Rearm Europe is not just a European response to the challenges herein, it is a lever for strategic autonomy and solidarity in which Greece participates.
Greece is a hub of cooperation. Greece wants to be a meeting place and Defea is the perfect platform for it. So we may have exchanges of know -how. This is how we enhance collective defense.
Our country, as a member of the European Union and NATO, is steadily, over time committed to the principles of international legality, allied cohesion, collective security. And the presence in Defea allies, partners and friends is a sign of unity, common perception, common orientation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Defense spending has been a condition of our national survival for Greece.
But I dare say, for the first time they are now treated as a lever for economic growth and as a place of economic cooperation with friendly countries.
Defensive costs can bare, if they are done properly, growth, they can create wealth.
They can create enviable jobs for high abilities, both inside and outside the Armed Forces.
They can be bullied – and this is a top priority – an important export activity that will finally cure, to the extent possible, the timeless problem of the external balance balance. Because the deficit balance of external payments threatens the security of Greece itself.
And I am sure, ladies and gentlemen, that the road we follow is the right road or rather, you will allow me to say that it is the only way.
Thank you very much”.