The retreat of international law as a regulator of geopolitical balances was cited by the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, in Parliament to underscore the need for the Armed Forces to be in a state of full readiness.

Speaking on the bill aimed at bringing the Hellenic Armed Forces into a new era—a bill that has sparked strong reactions among non-commissioned officers—Dendias said that reality dictates the proposed regulations, even if they “displease a group with established points of reference in the broader southwestern region.”

“Why did we do this? Are we foolish and indifferent to political survival? No. Reality shows us that this situation can no longer continue, regardless of what it may mean for the party or for the political future of the speaker,” he said.

The Defence Minister also stressed that “the national interest is paramount. We are not talking about an economic interest; we are talking about the very existence of the country, at a time when the principles of international law are no longer the norm governing relations between states.”

However, the minister left the door open to amendments concerning non-commissioned officers when the bill is formally introduced in Parliament.

“We have very specific proposals that we will present tomorrow to ease the concerns of those who wish to become officers. There will be a clear pathway and a defined percentage allocated to this right, so that they do not feel their country is treating them unjustly.

“But this cannot change the fundamental need to rationalise a system that contains not merely elements of absurdity, but elements of danger for our country,” he concluded.