Dendias Urges Rapid EU Defence Build-Up, Cites Turkey Threat
Greek Defence Minister warns Europe has delayed too long and must create a pan-European defence to face 360-degree threats.
KEY POINTS
- Dendias calls for rapid creation of a pan-European defence at Brussels military mobility event
- Warns Europe has delayed and must act "very, very fast" to close capability gaps
- Cites Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the wake-up call ending post-Cold War complacency
- Names Turkey as a threat to Greece and highlights Alexandroupolis corridor as strategic asset
- Notes EU has fewer rail kilometres than Roman roads despite larger population and economy
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias told a Brussels military mobility forum on Tuesday that Europe has fallen behind and must move "very, very fast" to build pan-European defence infrastructure. He warned that the continent cannot protect itself without the ability to move forces quickly.
Dendias traced the gap to Cold War reliance on NATO and the United States, followed by a post-1989 "end of history" complacency. He said Russia's invasion of Ukraine served as a wake-up call that forced Europe back to reality.
“Europe has delayed and we must move very, very fast”
The minister highlighted the Alexandroupolis corridor as a living example of strategic resilience and explicitly named Turkey as a threat to Greece in the unstable Eastern Mediterranean. He argued EU defence must cover threats across 360 degrees.
Drawing a historical parallel, Dendias noted the Roman Empire moved legions on an extensive road network, while today's EU, with a far larger population and a nearly €20 trillion economy, has fewer railway kilometres than the Romans had roads.
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