Former Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, has defended Greece’s military deterrence strategy, declaring that the doctrine remains unchanged: “Anyone who sets foot on Greek soil will first be burned, and only then will we ask who they are.”
Speaking in an extensive interview with Proto Thema, Floros discussed Greece’s defence modernisation, the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets, relations with Turkey, and the country’s preparedness to respond to any future military threat.
F-35s mark a new era for Greece
Floros said Greece’s entry into the F-35 program was the result of a long-term defence procurement strategy developed during his tenure as military chief. The program has already delivered Rafale fighter jets, FDI frigates, upgraded F-16 Viper aircraft, Apache helicopter upgrades, Spike NLOS and Rampage missiles, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, heavyweight submarine torpedoes and numerous support agreements.
He described the F-35 as a transformational capability that places the Hellenic Air Force among an elite group of operators and said Greece should proceed quickly with purchasing the aircraft’s full weapons package.
Turkey remains Greece’s primary security concern
Addressing speculation that Turkey could eventually rejoin the F-35 program, Floros said major political and strategic obstacles remain despite recent positive rhetoric from Washington.
He noted that Turkey’s continued operation of the Russian S-400 missile system and its reliance on Chinese telecommunications infrastructure remain significant concerns for the United States.
Floros stressed that Greece’s priority should be maintaining overwhelming deterrence through continued investment in its own armed forces rather than focusing on Ankara’s procurement ambitions.
“Deterrence worked”
Reflecting on the tensions of 2020, including the Evros border crisis and the Oruc Reis standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean, Floros argued that Greece successfully deterred Turkish military action.
He defended his widely quoted statement that anyone attempting to invade Greek territory would be met with immediate force, describing it as “the essence of deterrence.”
According to Floros, no Turkish forces set foot on Greek territory because Greece’s military readiness and political resolve prevented escalation.
He also argued that Greece should never view any future conflict as a limited regional incident, warning that any attack would require a response across the entire front, from Evros to Kastellorizo.
Praise for Mitsotakis’s leadership
Floros praised Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for his leadership during multiple national security crises, describing him as decisive, well-prepared and willing to listen to military advice before making critical decisions.
He said the successful handling of the Evros migration crisis in 2020 helped establish a strong working relationship between the government and the military leadership throughout subsequent crises.
Drones will not replace conventional forces
While acknowledging the growing importance of drones on modern battlefields, Floros rejected claims they would replace traditional military platforms.
Drawing lessons from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, he argued that tanks, artillery, aircraft, warships and infantry remain decisive in determining the outcome of conflicts.
He predicted that laser technology would eventually become one of the primary countermeasures against drones and welcomed Greece’s recent decisions to strengthen its national air defence network.
Defence industry must be rebuilt
Floros concluded by urging Greece to accelerate the rebuilding of its domestic defence industry, saying both public and private sectors must seize opportunities presented through European defence initiatives such as SAFE and RearmEU.
He said Greece now has an opportunity to strengthen its strategic autonomy while ensuring the Armed Forces remain capable of defending the country’s sovereignty against any future threat.