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Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias labeled Türkiye as Greece's "primary threat" during a parliamentary debate on the 2026 state budget, citing Ankara's defense spending of approximately €29 billion ($34 billion) compared to Athens' €6 billion ($7 billion).
"Defense procurement is not an expense. It is an investment in survival," Dendias said during the debate on the 2026 state budget.
"The first and primary threat to Greece is not theoretical or abstract. It is expressed. It is called Türkiye and is accompanied by casus belli, a daily challenge to Greek sovereignty, revisionism in the Aegean and an aggressive strategy against the Greek Cyprus," Dendias said.
The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and ahead of Ankara's hosting of the NATO Summit in 2026.
Dendias said deterrence cannot be achieved through general appeals for peace.
"Deterrence is not built with wishes or general calls for 'peace.' It is built with capabilities, technology, readiness and strategic planning," Dendias said, adding that, "And whoever disputes this reality must explain how you confront €28 billion without spending a single euro."
The minister described the defense spending comparison as "relentless," stating that Ankara allocates nearly €29 billion "for its revisionist plans" while Athens spends approximately €6 billion "to confront the Turkish threat."
Dendias emphasized that the "Agenda 2030" defense plan represents a necessary change in mentality—including a new deterrence doctrine, new force structure, defense innovation, revival of domestic industry and support for personnel.
"Security is not an abstract concept. It is a prerequisite for freedom, democracy and social cohesion. And in a world where guarantees are weakening, whoever cannot deter threats alone is simply waiting their turn," Dendias said.
Dendias said Greece participates in European military plans while facing a critical contradiction: Europe treats Russia as a major threat while the United States, the historical security provider of the EU, is distancing itself.
"The new American strategy under President Trump insists on compromise with Moscow, even with territorial concessions from Ukraine, to end the war," Dendias noted.
The minister said Greece must balance covering its immediate deterrence needs against Türkiye while joining European plans that do not always align with national priorities.
"Athens aligns with a European strategy that treats Moscow as an existential threat, at a time when the United States, Europe's real security provider, appears unwilling to clash and is pressing for political compromise in Ukraine," Dendias said.
"This creates strategic asymmetry: Greece is exposed without clear guarantees of American coverage, while simultaneously becoming a potential target of Russian countermeasures," he added.
Greek defense minister claimed that the message Greece sends to Washington is "ambiguous" and to Ankara "dangerously reassuring."
"A Türkiye that plays simultaneously in NATO and Russia appears as a useful mediator, while Greece is committed to a front that does not concern its primary threat," Dendias claimed.
Dendias denied reports that Greece withdrew its proposal for participation in the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) financing mechanism.
"It is inaccurate that we withdrew our proposal for participation in SAFE," Dendias said, explaining that SAFE is essentially a loan and that Greece proposed programs already in its procurement plan.
"Nothing has ended with SAFE. There are still three months to conclude which country will participate, and where. When we conclude, it will come to the armaments committee for approval by the national representation," he stated.
The minister explained that Greece submitted the maximum amount to cover possibilities if there is redistribution and if SAFE-2 materializes. He noted that the relevant EU commissioner requested that submitted totals reflect already-approved loan amounts.
"We wanted to anticipate all of this. And on this, contradicting what was written in the Greek press, there was a clear EU announcement about what we have done and how," he added.
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Responding to questions about earlier statements regarding Rafale fighter jets, Greek Defense Minister Dendias clarified his position.
"I said that the Rafale is a very expensive mechanism to use only in its air defense role. The Rafale is an extremely expensive aircraft with exceptional capabilities that can go to Greek Cyprus and return," he stated, concluding by saying, "To commit it to an air defense protection role in the Aegean does injustice to its capabilities. This does not mean it is unsuitable for the Aegean. It can do much more than that."
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