We can’t keep buying off the shelf

Friday's sweeping overhaul of Greece's military leadership is indicative of a radical shift in the dogma governing how the armed forces are run, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias tells Kathimerini in an exclusive interview.

Dogmas must be revised, he says, noting that the new leadership needs to speak its mind and to remember that the country cannot buy everything it needs off the shelf abroad, without producing anything of its own.

You chose to change the entire leadership of the armed forces. Were the changes introduced by the National Security Governmental Council (KYSEA) on Friday driven by a specific long-term vision?

We opted for the approach of a complete change of leaders, meaning going beyond the chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) and the chiefs of the general staffs, because we believe that it is time for a new...