Greek DM’s faux pas: Defense to ensure “internal” stability

Do the armed forces exist to protect Greece from internal or external forces?

Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader and junior coalition partner leader Panos Kammenos said: “During these trying times that our country is going through, it is important to tell the armed forces to ensure internal stability.” This statement caused concern, as the Greek armed forces were created to ensure Greece’s stability from external threats, not internal ones.

His comment comes amid speculation that Kammenos’ relations with Greek Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras are worsening. It should be noted that Kammenos threatened to depart from his position as junior coalition party member when the Greek side proposed that there would be a reduction in funds by 200 million euros.

Kammenos, as national defence minister in the coalition government put a veto in an cutbacks to defense spending.