Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias issued a stark warning on Tuesday that European Union defense funds must not be used to arm countries that threaten the security of member states, a clear reference to neighboring Turkey.
Speaking at the annual Economist Roundtable in Athens, Mr. Dendias argued it was unacceptable for a country like Turkey—which maintains a formal threat of war (casus belli) against Greece over potential maritime boundary extensions—to benefit from new EU defense initiatives.
“The issue is not about wielding a veto,” Mr. Dendias said, “but about ensuring consensus so that EU funds do not finance weapons that could be used against a member state.”
His comments come as the EU pushes forward with plans, such as the “ReArm Europe” program, to boost the continent's defense industry and joint procurement in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Athens has been actively lobbying its partners to limit the participation of countries that pose a direct security challenge to an EU member.
Mr. Dendias stressed that Greece is simultaneously pursuing its own ambitious, multi-billion-euro defense modernization. A key pillar of this is the “Achilles’ Shield” program, a multi-layered air defense system designed to protect against missiles and drones, being developed with cooperation from the United States, France, and Israel.
He also reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to meeting the new, higher defense spending targets set at last week’s NATO summit, noting that Greece has consistently been one of the few allies to exceed the previous 2% of GDP spending goal.
The minister’s remarks highlight a critical challenge for the EU: how to build a common defense policy while managing the deep-seated national security concerns of its individual members.