Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias called the incidental with the Ukrainian naval drone Lefkada “extremely dangerous” and stated that Ukraine indispensable apologize to Athens.
Nikos Dendias spoke astatine the league “National Action Plan successful the Face of Global Uncertainty”organized “Circle of ideas” together with Delphi Economic Forum.
Speaking of what was recovered Lefkada maritime dronethe curate confirmed that we were talking astir a Ukrainian instrumentality with explosives, but refused to disclose the details of the conclusion. This was reported SKAI And iefimerida.
According to Dendias, if such a drone were to collide with a cruise oregon rider ship, the consequences could beryllium tragic. He straight stated that Kyiv obliged to apologize. The formulation is uncommon successful its rigidity: usually successful such cases, Greek diplomacy wraps everything successful three layers of fabric wool so that nary 1 accidentally understands the meaning.
The Mediterranean should not go a war zone
Incident astatine Lefkada has already go serious diplomatic issue. Previously “Athens News” wrote astir the find of a oversea drone disconnected the seashore of the island, akin successful quality to a Ukrainian 1 MAGURA V5as well arsenic astir the presumption Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairswhich statedthat adjacent sanctioned vessels cannot beryllium considered a morganatic target for attack.
In this sense, Dendias’ statement reinforces Athens’ line: the war betwixt Russia and Ukraine should not spread into Greek waters, to tourist routes, ferries, cruise ships and civilian shipping. Sanctions are 1 thing. A naval drone with explosives disconnected a Greek land is something other entirely.
Dendias does not judge successful “calm waters”
The Minister of Defense besides spoke astir relations with Turkey. He said helium does not stock the optimism surrounding the look “calm waters” V Aegean Sea. According to him, the lack of caller tension depends solely connected behaviour Ankarabecause Greece makes nary claims.
Separately, Dendias touched upon the placement of systems Patriot connected Karpathos. He stressed that this is not related to Turkey, but is portion of the nationalist operational program successful lawsuit of threats from Iran. According to him, this is astir Greek planning, not a λύση NATO oregon constituent of the Greco-Turkish balance.
Editorial comment
Statement Dendiasa important not lone due to the fact that it demanded an apology from Ukraine. It is important that the Minister of Defense really admitted: the incidental Lefkada could person ended successful disaster for civilian shipping.
If a subject naval drone with explosives ends up adjacent the Greek islands, this is nary longer an abstract war somewhere acold away. This is simply a menace to Greek shipping routes, tourism, ferries and cruise ships. And here, allied solidarity cannot mean silence.
Greece has each close to request an mentation and an apology. Not due to the fact that Athens is changing its presumption connected Ukraine, but due to the fact that someone else’s war should not travel to Greek shores successful the signifier of an explosive drone.
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