Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made a pointed call at the EU Defense Ministers Council in Brussels today, warning ...

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias made a pointed call at the EU Defense Ministers Council in Brussels today, warning that Europe cannot keep treating Ukraine as its only security problem while the southern front goes under-resourced. Arriving at the session, Dendias said the meeting would address crises at the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the broader Middle East, not just the usual Ukraine agenda. He argued that Greece has spent years pushing the EU to take southern threats seriously, pointing to Athens' long-running participation in the EU's Operation Irini and Operation Aspides as proof of its commitment. His most direct line of the day: "The time has come for the European Union to fully recognize that threats do not come only from the North, but also from the South." He added that the EU must fund a genuine 360-degree security policy, something Greece has been advocating for years. On the sidelines of the Council, Dendias held three bilateral meetings. With Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, he pushed for all EU member states to contribute to Operation Aspides, not just Greece, Italy, and France. With Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, the focus was on bilateral defense cooperation and shared geopolitical risks. He also met briefly with Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo to follow up on their earlier meeting in Lisbon and discuss a future visit to Athens. The Council approved European Defence Projects of Common Interest, a new instrument aimed at boosting Europe's collective defense readiness. Dendias is expected to participate tomorrow, Tuesday, in a military mobility panel at the "Connecting Europe Days" summit in Brussels, alongside EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas. #Greece #EUDefense #Dendias