The General Director of the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations (GDNDPIR) of the Ministry of National Defence (MoD) Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, as part of an initiative of the GDNDPIR to strengthen Greece’s bilateral defence relations with Romania had bilateral consultations, on 27, 28 and 29 November 2023, with his Romanian counterpart, Brigadier General Mihail–Liviu IANCU.
Specifically, on Tuesday 28 November 2023, a delegation of officials from the Directorates-General of Defence Policy of the Greek and Romanian Ministries of Defence (since it was not possible to land their flight in Alexandroupolis, as planned, due to adverse weather conditions) headed by Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos and his Romanian counterpart Brigadier General Mihail–Liviu IANCU, held a teleconference with the Commands of XII Mechanised Infantry Division in Alexandroupolis and XVI Mechanised Infantry Division in Didymoteicho, in order to be informed about:
• Their operational work.
• The geostrategic role of Alexandroupolis and its contribution as a NATO strategic transit and energy hub.
• The actions and process followed by the formations of the Armed Forces in Evros, which had played a crucial role in the response to the migration crisis of February – March 2020.
• The current situation in the region in relation to the migration issue.
• The current security situation in the wider region.
On Friday 29 November 2023, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos and his counterpart BG Mihail–Liviu IANCU together with their delegations, held bilateral consultations at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defence in Athens. The main pillars of the debate were:
• The analysis of the impact of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, as well as on the wider geopolitical environment.
• The analysis of the security situation in the Black Sea, the Western Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and North Africa.
• Illegal migration.
• The deepening of bilateral defence relations between Greece and Romania as well as the strengthening of their cooperation within the framework of NATO and the EU.
Following the conclusion of the bilateral consultations, the two Directors of Defence Policy, acknowledging the importance of their bilateral defence cooperation, agreed on the establishment of a common framework of action, at
both military and political level, with the aim of highlighting the geopolitical role of the two countries in the wider region of Europe, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Taking into account Romania’s geostrategic position and the fact that it shares the same challenges and threats with Greece, this action is characterised as of the highest national importance.
In particular, this action is an excellent opportunity for:
• Highlighting Greece’s role in tackling the migration problem (compared to 2015 migration flows have been reduced by 95%), and its contribution to European security.
• The update (3 years after the incidents in the Evros region) and internationalisation of our experience, as well as the conclusions drawn from the management of the migration crisis on February – March 2020.
• Making our partners in the EU realise that Europe’s eastern borders, both on land and at sea, are identical to those of Greece and that during the crisis of March 2020 in Evros, Greece defended Europe’s borders in the most effective way.
• The improvement and strengthening of bilateral defence relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the creation of a positive narrative for Greece, in relation to its contribution to addressing the migration issue, but also as a pillar of stability and security in the Balkan and East Mediterranean region.
