Responding to reports about Patriot missile systems being transferred to Souda Bay on the island of Crete, to protect U.S. assets, Greece’s Ministry of National Defense issued a statement stressing that “the movement of specific weapons systems is clearly outside the scope of public debate.”
The Ministry firmly denied claims of such a deployment, emphasizing that defense planning and actions fall within its constitutional duty to ensure national and citizen security, regardless of current circumstances.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis echoed this position in a radio interview, stating the report was “baseless.” He noted that the Armed Forces constantly evaluate scenarios and are prepared for any contingency.
The Ministry further underlined that Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has made the creation of a multi-layered national missile defense shield a top priority since taking office.
This initiative, named “Achilles’ Shield,” aims to counter modern threats and is part of a broader strategic plan under the “Agenda 2030” framework. It is already being implemented following approval of the new Force Structure and a 12-year armament program by Parliament and the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA).
