National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias referred to the signature of the agreement with Israel for the “Achilles Shield” air defence dome, in a doorstep statement as he arrived for the informal EU defence ministers’ meeting taking place at Wicklow in Dublin on Tuesday.

“Today, in the context of the informal council of the EU, in addition to the Middle East and Ukraine, we will also discuss the challenges for European defence and security posed by one aspect of space, by cyberspace, by ballistic missiles and drones,” Dendias said.

He noted that Greece, through the Agenda 2030 and the ‘Achilles Shield’ agreement signed on Monday, was able to contribute to this dialogue, as these constituted the “first European comprehensive attempt to tackle all of these threats.”

“After yesterday’s signature of the contract for the anti-aircraft, anti-drone, anti-ballistic dome, Greece is creating a production base in European territory and the ability to tackle precisely these new threats,” he stressed.

“I also intend to discuss with my colleagues, to explain the challenge that revisionism poses in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean, in Thrace, for European territory, European defence, European security and the safety of European citizens,” the minister added.