Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced sweeping changes to the nation’s security apparatus with the creation of a National Security Secretariat under Thanos Dokos during a plenary session on defense procurement on Wednesday.
The new body will support the Government Council for National Security (KYSEA) and assess emerging hybrid threats, including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and destabilizing migration flows.
“It is crucial that the responsibility for monitoring these complex hybrid threats, alongside the Ministry of National Defense, falls under the National Security Secretariat,” Mitsotakis said, describing the new entity as “small, flexible, but well-organized,” and directly under his supervision.
Dokos, who has served as national security adviser, will now assume the role of secretary-general, bolstered by a dedicated team. His office will be housed in the former Ministry of Interior building on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, and he will report directly to the prime minister rather than Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.
Mitsotakis also delivered a politically charged message during his plenary speech, stressing that “investments in defense capabilities are investments in the country’s sovereignty.” He described the current defense procurement efforts as “the most dramatic transformation of the Armed Forces in our nation’s modern history.” He warned that without protection from external threats, sustainable development, investments, tourism and innovation would falter, making a robust defense framework essential for Greece’s future.
The prime minister underscored that the new National Security Secretariat was not only a structural upgrade but also a response to growing global challenges. “Technology has become a tool for interference, often aimed at disrupting internal stability,” he added, emphasizing the importance of a proactive defense policy. Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s long-term ambition to develop one of Europe’s most advanced defense systems, firmly anchored in the Atlantic Alliance, while also strengthening its ties with European defense partners.
Criticizing opposition parties for their perceived sentimental approach to national security, Mitsotakis challenged them to set aside partisan differences and unite behind a strong national defense agenda. Defense Minister Dendias later noted that over half of Greece’s defense procurement budget would support European and domestic industries, reinforcing the government’s commitment to strategic and transparent investments.