Greece’s National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, convened on Wednesday to review key national security issues ranging from defense procurements to migration.
According to government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis briefed the council on recent international and regional developments. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias outlined updates on military procurement programs, including Greece’s option to proceed with the acquisition of a fourth FDI-class frigate. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris also presented the latest developments on migration flows.
Speaking after the meeting, Dendias clarified that the Turkish research vessel Piri Reis was not discussed by the council and bore no connection to Greece’s recent military readiness exercise. “There’s too much noise about it,” he said, adding that such exercises are part of the regular schedule of surprise drills held every year.
The defense minister also confirmed the approval of structural reforms within the armed forces, recently passed by a parliamentary committee. These include strengthening the Army’s General Inspectorate, relocating it to Larissa, and establishing a unified intelligence directorate under the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.
On procurements, Dendias presented the planned addition of the fourth Belharra-class frigate, named Themistocles. He noted that while Greece’s existing vessels are based on the Belharra Standard 2 model, the Themistocles will come with enhanced “Standard 2++” capabilities, offering around 10% greater operational performance.
The session underscored Greece’s dual focus on upgrading its defense capabilities and addressing migration challenges, while officials sought to play down speculation about tensions in the Aegean.
