Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, visited the Hellenic Navy frigate Psara on Saturday, which was anchored offthe small Horn of Africa country of Djibouti.

HS Psara is the second Greek frigate to participate in the European Operation “ASPIDES” (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) which aims to secure the free passage of commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), by accompanying vessels and protecting them against possible attacks.

Hellenic Navy Psara Frigate

Dendias and Borrell, who is also a Commission vice-president, were accompanied by the chief of Hellenic National Defense General Staff, Gen. Dimitrios Choupis, and the chief of the Hellenic Navy Staff, Rear Adm. Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras.

Borrell

During the visit, Dendias addressed the crew of the frigate Psara, expressing his gratitude and emphasizing:

“Besides the pride I feel in seeing the Greek flag flying on your mast as you sail through the Red Sea, I would like to tell you that this operation is of outstanding importance. For every Greek citizen, for every European citizen. If freedom of navigation is obstructed, the market turbulence, rising inflation, the loss of jobs, will deeply affect Greek society. They will deeply affect European society.”

Dendias later had the chance to meet with the president of the ethnic Greek community in coastal Djibouti, Marios Armenakis.

Borrell

(ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΥΠ.ΕΘ. ΑΜΥΝΑΣ/ EUROKINISSI)

The meeting between Dendias and Borrel began on Friday  in Athens and was followed by a visit to the headquarters of the EU operation ASPIDES in Larissa.

The agenda of their meeting included the following topics as Dendias’ shared on his account on ‘X’: the response to regional and international security challenges, the establishment of a defence arm of the EU,  Strategic Compass,  European defence Strategy, ongoing EU defence and security operations.

“ASPIDES” is proof that when the EU has the will, it also has the capacity. It can react and it can become a security provider in the global community. For the Hellenic Republic, the reinforcement of the European mechanisms of Defence and Security is a strategic priority, as is the establishment, finally, of a defence arm of the EU” expressed Dendias in the joint statement with High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell.