Dendias: Agenda 2030 a 'rational response' to the challenges of the times

National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the "Agenda 2030" as he opened the 1st Defence and Geopolitics Conference, titled “The New Geopolitical Reality and Defence Challenges – The Next Day for Europe, Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean,” organised by Capital.gr and Forbes Greece.

"It is essential for a country to be able to protect its sovereignty and sovereign rights. To have a role, you must also have the means to leverage your advantages. A rational response to the challenges of our time is the 'Agenda 2030', which includes the 'Achilles’ Shield'," he said.

The minister’s address, which launched the conference, was pre-recorded due to his visit to Brussels, where he will participate in the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council in the configuration of defence ministers of the member states.

Regarding the transition of the Armed Forces to the new era, he explained that the “Armed Forces are being transformed from a sum of weapons systems into a holistic deterrence system and into the creation of a mechanism for perceiving, processing, and exploiting information.”

As he stated, “the emphasis is not only on acquiring new platforms, such as the Belharra frigates or the F-35s, but on developing a complete ecosystem.”

He also said that increasing the participation of the Greek defence ecosystem in the country's armaments programmes was “extremely important for the national economy".

“Geopolitics is a fundamental tool for analysing, understanding, and forecasting policy within a specific geographical area,” the minister noted, adding: “It is evident that the international system is entering a phase of great volatility, a phase of power competition. The illusion of a ‘perpetual peace’ has collapsed.

"Europe is experiencing a global rebalancing of power. The centre of gravity is shifting toward the Indo-Pacific. For decades, Europe relied on the strategic ‘umbrella’ of the United States, thereby neglecting its own capabilities, and must now recognise the new, difficult reality. Therefore, strengthening a Common Defence Policy is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

"Security cannot be taken for granted, and the next day for Europe and for the Eastern Mediterranean will be determined by power, but also by the ability to foresee, cooperate, and adapt.”

Regarding geopolitical developments, he spoke of the “increasing projection of power by Turkiye - from Syria to Libya and Somalia - which creates new challenges.”

“In response to this development, the Greek strategy does not focus on exclusion, but on shaping a framework of rules. Commitment to international law, maintaining open channels of communication, and strengthening cooperation with countries that share common security perceptions are our main pillars,” he added.

On the sector of innovation, Dendias pointed out that the country “already has a credited success called ‘Centaur.’ The first anti-drone system developed by HAI (Hellenic Aerospace Industry) and tested in real combat conditions. A development that until a few years ago would have been unthinkable. ‘Achilles’ Shield’ itself is not just an approach; it is a holistic dimension. It is a new philosophy. The five levels of the ‘Shield’ are: Land, Sea, Air, Cyberspace, Space.”

“At the same time,” he continued, “we are also looking at our alliances. Deepening the strategic relationship with the United States, France, Israel, and India reflects the need to adapt to challenges. I have met with all four defence ministers of these countries within the first month and a half of 2026. And I want to share with you the great interest I encountered regarding the reform we are implementing in the Greek Armed Forces.”

“In this new world where ‘might makes right,’ we are compelled to recognise reality. With ‘Agenda 2030,’ Greece is creating the most innovative and powerful Armed Forces in its history, not to threaten anyone, but to preserve our national territory and safeguard our sovereign rights. These rights were bequeathed to us, and we have an obligation to pass them on to future generations,” the national defence minister underlined.

“With the Armed Forces’ Transition Roadmap to the new era, we are transforming a capable force into a machine of knowledge, information, and data processing. We are harnessing new technologies and recognising Artificial Intelligence, which will change everything on this planet. But our goal remains our constitutional role. The constitutional role of the Armed Forces is the security of every Greek woman and every Greek man in the face of today’s challenges and tomorrow’s challenges,” Dendias concluded.