Today, during its session, the Cabinet is expected to give the “green light” to the roadmap for transitioning the Armed Forces into a new era. The Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, will move forward with the New Structure, with an eye on the challenges of the current geopolitical environment.

From La Spezia, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Navy, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Katara—who has implemented a series of cost-saving measures and budget cuts for the Navy—Mr. Dendias met with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto aboard the Italian Navy’s frigate F 598 ITS. In the presence of both ministers, the Director General for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDAEE), Lieutenant General Ioannis Bouras, and the Italian Director of National Armaments, Vice Admiral Giancinto Ottaviani, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Naval Collaboration between Greece and Italy and a Statement of Intent for the acquisition of 2+2 FREMM-class (Bergamini) frigates.

Although the initial negotiations had left the acquisition of 2+2 frigates open-ended, the fact that this has now materialized—driven by intense regional competition—gave new momentum to Ministry of Defense planners. Mr. Dendias stressed that the memorandum “opens the door for us to acquire two FREMM frigates—like the one we are on now—with the option to obtain two more.”

“Two or four decade-old ships, with exceptional capabilities, in excellent condition,” the Minister noted, adding: “Four Belharra frigates—Standard 2++. Two plus two FREMM frigates, outstanding. Modernized MEKO frigates. A truly significant navy, able to defend the sovereignty and sovereign rights of our country, both in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.”

Missiles as a ‘Key Factor’
At the same time, the fact that FREMM frigates can also carry “the new-generation ELSA missile, which will also be deployed on the Belharra frigates,” as Mr. Dendias said, constitutes “a tremendous deterrent power,” since these are strategic weapons that greatly upgrade the capabilities of the Hellenic Navy.

Notably, ELSA (European Long Range Strike Approach) is a French initiative for the joint development and procurement of advanced deep-penetration precision weapons with a range of over 1,000 km. These are currently lacking in the EU but are considered essential for NATO’s large-scale operations.

Concerns Among Personnel
Meanwhile, the second phase of the New Structure of the Armed Forces includes changes to conscription, the reserve system, further consolidation of bases, and modifications to the working conditions of military personnel. Given that promotion opportunities are being drastically reduced, many positions are effectively disappearing.

Lower-ranking personnel (non-commissioned officers) are under the most pressure, as in recent years they had been almost equalized in many respects with senior officers—a situation that had caused strong dissatisfaction among the top ranks.

Against this backdrop, a call has been issued for a nationwide gathering of both active-duty and retired military personnel on October 11 at 4 p.m. at the Old Parliament, followed by a march to Parliament and the Maximos Mansion. Already, 13 associations forming the Coordinating Body of Military Representatives (active and retired) have held a press conference, stressing that the 2030 Agenda “leads to smaller and weaker Armed Forces, with characteristics of a professional and salaried army, not fully nationally oriented, and with a scent of privatization of everything—services, maintenance, and supply.”

Ahead of these mass mobilizations, the Panhellenic Federation of Military Associations (POMENS) is holding a conference on the theme: “MoD Omnibus Bill – HNDCs – NCO Academies – Volunteer NCOs – Professional Soldiers.” The event, featuring speakers Nikolaos Alivizatos, Dimitrios Vervesos, and Alkiviadis Evaggelatos, aims to clarify the stance and planned actions of military personnel going forward.