“Artificial Intelligence is gradually becoming a key factor in defense planning here at home as well. It is shaping not just a technological reality, but also the architecture of international security,” said Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, declaring today the opening of the International Conference on Crisis Management “ATHENS – 25”, on the theme “Armed Conflicts and Crisis Management in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”.

“Artificial Intelligence in the field of Artificial Intelligence”.
“Defence policies are not implemented unless the adequacy of algorithmic systems and interpretive tools, Big Data processing capability, and automated risk assessment are ensured. The integration of Artificial Intelligence in the military sector has also affected the ways and means by which operations are conducted,” Dendias said, adding that “of particular concern, of particular concern, is the development of military systems with Machine Learning capabilities.”

In the same vein, “these systems may function as ‘black boxes’ – to use a familiar expression – with non-transparent, evolving, and I think in the broader neighborhood, incomprehensible decision-making mechanisms,” theNational Defense Minister described, adding that “the uncontrolled use of AI can equally undermine peace, security, stability and at the global level.”

It should be noted that the conference is being organized under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defence, the General Directorate of National Defence Policy & International Relations (DGNDRP), in collaboration with the General Directorate of National Defence Policy & International Relations (DGNDRP), at the amphitheatre of the Military School of Evelpidonics (MMS).

The conference was attended by the Chief of the General Staff General Dimitrios Houpis, Ambassadors of foreign countries in Greece, the Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, Rear Admiral Spyridon Tsiafoutis PN as representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Lieutenant General George Christodoulou as representative of the Chief of the General Staff, the Chief of the Coast Guard – Greek Coast Guard Vice Admiral L.S. Tryphon Kontizas, the Secretary General of National Security Thanos Dokos, the Director General of the Hellenic Police, Ambassador (retired) Michael Spinellis, representative of the Chief of the Hellenic Police, Senior Officers of the Armed Forces, Defence Attaches, Academics and members of the military personnel.

Dendias, in his address, noted:

“It is a great honor for me to welcome you to the Military School of Evelpidon, to participate in the two-day international conference “ATHENS 2025”, entitled “Armed Conflicts and Crisis Management in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”

As the rapid evolution of AI technologies continues to shape the global security environment, it is imperative to engage all stakeholders in a constructive, future-oriented dialogue.

Together, we must address not only the complex challenges and ethical dimensions that arise from the integration of AI into the defence sector but also explore the transformative opportunities it presents, from strategic advantages and operational efficiencies to increased civilian protection during armed conflicts.

The Athena International Crisis Management Conference is an exchange of views dedicated to a timely and very high-level topic, but one that is certainly of concern to our Armed Forces. The convergence of AI with crisis handling and the conduct of operations in the field.

Artificial Intelligence is gradually becoming a key factor in defense planning here at home as well.

It is shaping not just a technological reality, but also the architecture of international security.

Defense policies are not implemented unless the adequacy of algorithmic systems and interpretive tools, Big Data processing capability, and automated risk assessment are ensured.

The integration of AI into the military sector has also affected the ways and means by which operations are conducted.

Military applications of AI have provided significant, not to say decisive, advantages to operations:

– Faster decision making, due to the rapidity of Command and Control (Command and Control System).

– Achieving greater accuracy to engage targets, reducing collateral damage.

– Detect, calibrate, assess, and prioritize threats.

– Better awareness of the operational situation in real time.

– Supply chain support.

– Enhancing human capabilities in complex conditions.

– Efficient processing of the huge amount of data in a minimum of time, and of course, training of personnel on modern platforms through the generation of realistic complex scenarios, which are automatically adjusted according to the trainees’ decision of action and the extraction of analyses, conclusions, and their evaluations.

However, all this seems positive, but we cannot ignore the fact that technological advances are coupled with a number of complex and multi-dimensional legal, ethical, technological, and political challenges, which also require deep analysis and evaluation.

The uncontrolled use of AI can equally undermine peace, security, and stability globally.

Technological capabilities are spreading at tremendous speed – you all know that. So the potential for their use, and the risk of their use, by non-state actors, even terrorist organizations, is increasing, but also by countries, state actors, who profess revisionism and ignore, not to say violate, international law to serve their own geopolitical agendas. They thus undermine regional and international stability and security.

Of particular concern, concern, is the development of military systems with Machine Learning capabilities.

These systems may operate as “black boxes” – to use a familiar expression – with non-transparent, evolving, and, I think, to the broad neighborhood, incomprehensible decision-making mechanisms.

Also, the potential use of generative AI in military equipment adds another layer of complexity, not to mention uncertainty.

And that’s because these systems will perhaps be able to create autonomously by generating new solutions and analyzing themselves, and learning from new data.

Thus, they will succeed in adapting to rapidly changing conditions, but without human supervision.

These are amazing possibilities, but for this very reason, they require close and rigorous control.

There is clearly a fundamental question before us: Whether it is technically feasible for an AI algorithm, even the most sophisticated one, to incorporate complex legal and value concepts of international humanitarian law, such as the principles of discrimination and proportionality.

And to apply these critically important principles in a rapidly evolving business environment.

Planning must ensure that any use of new technology is governed by a clear institutional framework.

Artificial Intelligence is not called upon to substitute or replace the human factor, it is called upon to enhance and facilitate it.

We cannot, therefore, ignore the growing danger of full automation in life and death decisions.

There is a now I think well-known incident of a Soviet officer, Stanislav Petrov, who in 1983 perceived in time a false warning of a missile attack by the US then on the, also then, Soviet Union.

His reaction, his ignoring of the facts on his part, I think, saved humanity, but will always remind us how close we can be to disaster.

By the way, those of you who haven’t set aside an hour and a half of your life to watch the Dr. Strangelove movie with Peter Sellers, I would urge you to do so. Aside from the fact that you’ll laugh a lot, it’s an excellent movie shot about 50 years, half a century ago, that gives us a sense of a caustic environment of doom created by submitting to data without the human factor as the final arbiter.

For this reason, it is essential to establish clear operational boundaries and clear legal limitations to ensure that human beings always remain at the heart of critical decision-making, especially when deadly force is used.

However much familiarity there may be with the use of lethal force, it remains a meteoric moral leap for humanity and especially – let me say – for Christian Humanity.

Acceptance of the use of lethal force requires consideration and weighing of a number of moral parameters that cannot be isolated from human conscience and individual judgment.

A person who decides to deprive his fellow human being of his life must be able to convincingly apologize for that decision to his Creator.

We ought, as a concluding remark, to remain a society of men.

With these thoughts, I wish everyone a productive, constructive discussion. I am confident of that, so that we can formulate a common, responsible attitude in the face of rapid developments.

I hope that the conclusions of this meeting will help us arrive at how we can move forward from here.

I wish you good luck, and I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Spinelli, and your colleagues for this event

Thank you very much.