Greek Deputy Defense Minister Discusses Anti-Aircraft Dome and Regional Security Concerns

The anti-aircraft dome will “serve as a deterrent system, not at all aggressive, and above all, it will cover not only the Aegean but also the entire region from Evros to Kastellorizo against any threat, whether from the air or sea,” stated Deputy Defence Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis in an interview with SKAI TV on Thursday.

“Essentially,” he continued, “it’s a quadruple dome that will deter any air threat, whether it’s a drone, ballistic missile, or other aerial threat, and it will also be anti-ship. Anything entering Greek territory will be locked out and prevented. By 2026, the dome will be ready.”

Regarding Turkiye, he clarified that “when there is a threat to our national integrity, the Armed Forces will obviously be mobilized, whether it concerns the Evros region, the Aegean, or any point that affects our sovereign rights. Our country has no expansionist intentions nor aggressive thoughts. These are distorted interpretations made in the neighboring country, apparently to serve a domestic audience,” Kefalogiannis said.

Regarding a possible Turkey-Syria agreement on the EEZ, he pointed out that “what each country declares with another neighboring country concerns their bilateral relations, but whether it applies to everyone and is valid depends on international agreements and international legality.”

“Just as the Turkish-Libyan agreement is illegal, because currently, there is no substantial state entity in Libya that covers the entire country, the same will apply to Syria. Moves are made at the diplomatic and military level, while often our defense partnerships, in practice, cancel all these agreements,” he clarified.

“Greece’s national interests are not limited to the country’s geographical boundaries. We have interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, to ensure peace and stability and, above all, energy security, not only for our country but also for Europe. These agreements, therefore, are clearly not robust and do not align with International Law,” underlined Kefalogiannis.

“Turkiye needs the EU more than the other way around,” he added.