Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has pressed EU defence ministers in Brussels for more warships and resources to strengthen European naval operations in the Red Sea and wider Middle East, arguing that threats to European security come from both the north and south.
Speaking at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Dendias called for a change in the bloc’s defence strategy as the conflict in the Middle East continues to create risks for European security and international shipping.
“The challenges do not come only from the north, but also from the south,” Dendias said, directing the EU’s attention towards the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Greek intervention focused on strengthening EU naval operations in the wider Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Greece plays a leading role in the EU’s “Aspides” naval operation and hosts its land-based strategic headquarters in Larissa. Athens has warned that the mission needs additional support to maintain its operational capacity and effectiveness.
According to information following the minister’s remarks, Greece is pressing other EU countries to provide additional warships and resources. Italy and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas are also calling for greater contributions, according to the report.
Three countries currently carry much of the operational burden of the mission: Greece, Italy and France. The operation protects international shipping from attacks by the Houthis.
Dendias stressed that protecting Europe’s commercial shipping routes represents a collective responsibility and cannot depend on the response of only a small number of member states.
Greece and Italy Push for Broader Support
Greece’s call for wider international support for Operation Aspides formed the central theme of Dendias’ meeting with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto.
The two ministers confirmed that Athens and Rome share a position on Europe’s defence architecture. They also agreed that all EU member states should urgently contribute ships and other resources so that the Greek, Italian and French forces operating in the Red Sea do not exhaust their operational capabilities.
Dendias also met with the Netherlands’ new Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius and held a brief meeting with Portuguese Defence Minister Nuno Melo.
Athens is urging Brussels to provide the resources it says Europe needs to strengthen its defence capabilities. The Greek side points to its participation in the “Irini” and “Aspides” operations as evidence of its contribution to European security.
However, Greece argues that Europe’s goal of greater strategic autonomy requires a fairer distribution of defence responsibilities. Its call for additional naval vessels in the south now places the EU’s commitment to defence solidarity under renewed pressure.
