Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias delivered a pointed warning to Ankara on Saturday, saying authoritarian views are a...

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias delivered a pointed warning to Ankara on Saturday, saying authoritarian views are attempting to overturn the established rules of international law. Speaking from Paros, where he represented Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at ceremonies for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary at the Ekatontapyliani Church, Dendias made clear who his target was. He said the rules of international law and the law of the sea are not empty text but the choice of civilized humanity, and that Greece's armed forces exist precisely to defend against attempts to undermine them. "We are living in dystopian times," Dendias said, warning that authoritarian positions are pushing to change what humanity has built through international law. He stressed that Greece's armed forces stand against exactly those kinds of attempts, guaranteeing the country's independence, sovereignty, and sovereign rights. Dendias also pointed to Greece's ongoing military modernization, describing it as a massive effort using the resources of the Greek people to build the most modern armed forces the country has ever had. The frigate Kimon, one of Greece's newest and most advanced warships, sailed into Paros harbor to take part in the festivities alongside the minister's address. The Dormition of the Virgin Mary, celebrated on August 15, is the patron feast of the Greek armed forces, making Dendias' choice of venue and occasion a deliberate signal. The remarks are being widely read as a direct response to Turkey's continued challenges to Greek sovereignty in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. #Greece #Dendias #InternationalLaw