"It is neither nationally possible nor constitutionally permissible for the country to relinquish by renunciation its sovereignty and sovereign rights, international law and the international law of the sea, the European acquis and the Greek-Egyptian agreement and everything that these confer upon it," National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias stated on Thursday, during his speech at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the surrender of German forces on the island of Symi.
In particular, in his speech, Dendias noted: "It is a great honour and a great pleasure for me to be here today in Symi on the 80th anniversary of its liberation. On May 8, the day that the Second World War ended and of democracy's victory against nazism and fascism, here at the Symi command post, the German forces signed their unconditional surrender. This was the last act in the drama of the Second World War on European soil."
According to Dendias, "over time, the Aegean Sea has been a testing ground of our national responsibility and our national will. The product of this national responsibility is the 2030 Agenda, which we are implementing. The greatest reform of the Greek Armed Forces ever undertaken. At the heart of this reform is the new doctrine of deterrence. A doctrine that takes full advantage of the capabilities, modern platforms and the geographical configuration of the Aegean region. The crowning glory of this new deterrence design is the "Achilles' Shield". A plan that covers all modern potential threats, a holistic approach that aspires to shield the territory and enhance the deterrent power of our country."
The defence minister stressed that he was not one to "ignore geopolitical and numerical reality," but warned that no country, no matter how strong, should expect Greece or the Greeks to back down from protecting the country's sovereignty and sovereign rights, under any government or at any time. "It is clear that Greece and the Greeks, throughout history, do whatever is needed and necessary. Or as the Anglo-Saxons put it, 'whatever it takes'," he added.