The need for the European Union to invest in building capacity with the re -creation of its defense industrial base and the transition to new sectors was underlined by the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendiaswho participated in a public discussion at the College of Europe on “The Role of Greece at the EU Southeast Borders. and its contribution to the development of the European Defense Arm “, which took place today, Wednesday, April 9, in Bruges, Belgium.
He stated as an example of unmanned aircraft explaining: “Russia produces thousands of unmanned aircraft a day. Iran produces thousands of unmanned aircraft a day. Turkey could produce thousands of unmanned aircraft a day. Europe has knowledge, but it does not have the ability. And also, in terms of innovation, we must create a single European ecosystem that could find innovative solutions to the problems that the European Army faces and will face. We’re not just going to reproduce what happened in the past, with large ships, big tanks, planes. “
And he continued: “Airplanes, for example. Europe does not produce a stealth plane. The only available market at the moment is the American F-35. So, for Greece the F-35 market is a one-way street. There are very good European planes, such as Rafale and Tycoon, Eurofighter, but they are not stealth aircraft. And in the future, we will not talk about fighter aircraft. We will talk about a fighter aircraft, a platform like the F-35, and a flock of unmanned aircraft around it, which will fight the battle. The pilot will be the one who handles the aircraft but will not fight with his aircraft – he will fight with the unmanned aircraft he will use. So Europe has to make a big leap forward and that needs more than money. It’s also a matter of culture. “
At the public discussion at the @collegeofeuropewith the Rector and former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini @FedericaMog and the Professor of International Relations & Director of the Institute of Global… pic.twitter.com/c3U3OMaOjs
– Nikos Dendias (@nikosdendias) April 9, 2025
Mr Dendias said that European autonomy “does not mean that it is not complementary to NATO. I think these two things can coexist. Europe has lived in a way that has allowed Defense to retreat its priorities for years. ” He pointed out that in terms of “defense autonomy”, Europe is “about ten years from it”. He explained that “if we start ordering ships tomorrow, we are going to have any earlier than seven or eight years. And if we order a submarine tomorrow, we will not have it 12 years from today. “
“So, creating European autonomy is a long -term process, it is not something we can achieve tomorrow,” he added.
Referring to the financial figures required for EU defense autonomy, he explained that it is “many more than 150 billion” and added: “Even if we have the money, there are no structures that could produce what we need in a reasonable time. So, we have to work very effectively in order to create this autonomy in ten years or somewhere. “
“This is said, this autonomy does not mean that it should not be complementary to NATO and the United States. Regardless of today’s United States government choices, the United States is a operating democracy, it is a country that has saved Europe twice, in the First World War and World War II, and I am not at all ready to write the United States as a strong factor in the world. Of course, I fully respect the government chosen by the people of the United States, but again, it will not exclude the United States from the future security system of this world. But we have to be ready and be covered in the meantime. “
He expressed the estimation that “the European Union without NATO is not able to develop in Ukraine. I have clearly in my mind about what we can do as Europe. “
Taking Greece as an example, he said that “it is a medium-small economy, even in the context of the European Union. We are an economy of 230-240 billions. “
“We have,” he continued, “relatively large armed forces, because we face a threat from the east. Did you know that Greece has more heavy tanks than the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg, together? Cumulatively. So, if we are talking about military development in Ukraine, I believe that we are talking about the European Union’s current potential for the current potential of the European Union. “
“If peace is achieved in Ukraine,” he said, “and we develop a peacekeeping power, this is a completely different story. Greece is very good at detecting mines, so we could help and see what we can do, but this is a completely different story from the development of troops in Ukraine under the present circumstances. “
For Greece and Europe, he said that “we cannot accept the invasion, regardless of the reasons, as a legal way of resolving the disputes between states.”
“Because if we make the big jump and accept it for any reason, then the reality of mankind will return to the Middle Ages,” he added.
“What the European Union does right now is in the right direction. But, as I said before, it takes time. Also, there are many things that are very technical. Because Ukraine has completely changed the modern war. That is, when we talk about reform, we are talking about total reform. Everything has changed. The way the battle is carried out, the type of equipment it needs, ”he explained.
“The citizen serves in the army of a democracy. The citizen. Not the professional. Professional backbone is needed. This is certain. But citizens must and must serve. And citizens must protect the countries and values of their countries and the European Union. Again, I know that will not make me very popular, ”he clarified.
The European Union, he said, “is currently conducting two naval operations and these two companies have a Greek name. One is called EIRINI, which takes place north of Libya and the other is called ASPIDES, which takes place in the Red Sea. “
As to whether Europe can currently face increasing hybrid threats, Mr Dendias made it clear that this is not possible. “We’re not ready. And having lost the United Kingdom with Brexit, another unthinkable story that I had not predicted that I will see in my life, we are not ready at all. But that does not mean that we should not continue to try and prepare. Again, it will take several years. Even during the Ukrainian War, I have to say that there has been great progress in this area, because you have to see it as another warfare. We have land, the sea, the air and now, there is a hybrid war somewhere in between. So, we must prepare our strengths for this field of war also, “he said.
Prior to the public debate, the Minister of National Defense had a meeting with the Rector and former EU spokesman. on Foreign and Federica Mogherini Foreign Affairs and Professor of International Relations and Director of the Institute of International Affairs Konstantinos Filis.