Greece’s Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has dismissed reports suggesting the presence of drones near the Greek island of Crete, stating that authorities have no such information and that the country remains fully protected.
Speaking publicly on Wednesday, Dendias said Greece has taken precautionary measures in areas such as Crete and Karpathos, adding that Greek naval vessels equipped with air-defense capabilities are already operating in the region.
“Our country is protected,” he said, stressing that if any credible information about drone threats existed, Greek authorities would already be aware of it.
The defense minister also emphasized that Cyprus is secure from potential aerial threats. According to Dendias, the Greek military equipment sent to Cyprus is capable of providing strong defensive protection.
His comments came in response to remarks made in the Greek parliament by Dimitris Koutsoumbas, who had referred to a possible drone threat originating from Lebanon. Dendias rejected the suggestion, reiterating that Greek authorities have received no such intelligence.
Asked about the new Greek frigate Kimon, the minister said the vessel itself is fully ready as a unit but has not yet been fully integrated into the operational fleet. He noted that communication with the rest of the fleet could present challenges if deployed immediately, though it could be accelerated in emergency circumstances.
Dendias also addressed regional security issues involving Turkey, saying Ankara understands Greece’s need to defend its territory. He explained that the presence of Greek aircraft and naval ships in the region is intended to protect the entire population of Cyprus.
He added that he personally had not been in contact with Turkish officials on the matter and was unsure whether discussions had taken place through the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Responding to reports in Turkish media suggesting Ankara should also deploy forces, Dendias questioned the rationale, noting that the Lebanese group Hezbollah is geographically closer to Turkey. He suggested that such calls might instead be an opportunity for Turkey to withdraw forces already deployed elsewhere.
