Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of Greece’s defence strategy, declaring that Athens intends to place mobile missile units across its island chain in the Aegean Sea. The remarks, delivered during an event in Athens, mark one of the most aggressive policy shifts in years and directly target Türkiye, which Dendias labelled Greece’s “primary threat” despite both states being NATO members.

Aegean Tensions Resurface

Speaking at a forum titled Greece in a Global Perspective, Dendias asserted that Greece had been grappling with a strategic contradiction since joining NATO in 1952, arguing that the country’s greatest security risk comes not from outside the Alliance but from fellow member Türkiye. He claimed that while Greece seeks only to defend itself, Türkiye allegedly “threatens” Greek sovereignty—an accusation Ankara has repeatedly rejected in past diplomatic exchanges.

Dendias said this perceived imbalance required a fundamental redesign of Greece’s defensive posture, signalling a departure from doctrines that placed the burden of Aegean security primarily on naval strength.

New Doctrine: Missile Deployment Across Islands

Outlining the new strategy, Dendias dismissed the traditional belief that naval forces alone can safeguard the Aegean. Modern threats, he said, have rendered billion‑euro frigates vulnerable to much cheaper unmanned systems, and therefore Greece would pivot to a missile‑based deterrent spread across its island geography.

According to the minister, mobile missile batteries—“hundreds if not thousands”—will be stationed across numerous islands, creating what he described as an ability to “close the Aegean from land.” This shift, he argued, would allow the navy to operate beyond the narrow confines of the region instead of being tied down by coastal defence obligations.

‘Achilles Shield’ to Expand Air Defence

A critical component of the overhaul is the “Achilles Shield” project, a multi‑layered plan to fortify air defence using land‑based systems rather than relying predominantly on combat aircraft. Dendias said five categories of missile systems would be deployed near the Turkish‑Greek land border and throughout the Aegean islands, with Athens intending to procure a substantial portion from Israel.

He claimed the programme would enable Greece to “seal not only the sea but also the air,” creating an integrated operational bubble over the Aegean. The move represents one of Athens’ most ambitious defence procurement efforts in decades.

Countering Türkiye’s Drone Capabilities

Addressing what he called a rapidly evolving battlefield, Dendias emphasised Türkiye’s expansion in unmanned aerial technology. He alleged—without providing evidence—that Türkiye has more than “one million drones” ready for deployment. Citing this as a major vulnerability for Greece, he argued that every Greek soldier must receive drone training as the Hellenic Army transitions into what he described as the “era of unmanned warfare.”

He highlighted the “Kentavros” (Centaur) anti‑drone system, previously tested under real combat conditions in the Red Sea, saying Greece plans to install it on all frigates and later adapt it for land use.

Large-Scale Reserve Force Planned

Dendias also announced plans to form a new volunteer reserve corps comprising 150,000 personnel, which would raise Greece’s total reserve force to 250,000. He claimed this expanded reserve would enhance national readiness amid what he portrayed as escalating regional threats.

The minister added that newly acquired second‑hand Bergamini‑class frigates from Italy will be equipped with long‑range missiles capable of striking targets up to 1,500 kilometres away—further signalling Greece’s intention to project power far beyond its immediate vicinity.