The General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, participated in the Meeting of the Defence Policy Directors of NATO member states, held in Brussels, on 6 and 7 December 2022. The main issues discussed were the implications of the war in Ukraine, the implementation aspects of the Alliance’s new deterrence and defence posture, in the light of the relevant developments in the region, as well as the new “Political Guidance 2023” under negotiation.
In the context of the debate on Ukraine, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos referred to the role of the defence industry in supporting the defense capabilities of the Allies that are assisting the struggling country and reiterated Greece’s solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people. At the same time, he stressed the impact of the instrumentalisation of the energy crisis by the Russian side, aiming at affecting the smooth functioning of the defence industry of the member states of the Alliance. In this regard, he highlighted the important role that Alexandroupolis and the wider region, including the Aegean Sea, can play in effectively securing energy infrastructure and supply lines in south-eastern Europe.
In the context of the discussion on the deterrence and defence posture of NATO, Dr. Balomenos referred to the important decisions taken by the leaders of the Alliance member states at the last NATO Summit (Madrid, 29-30 June 2022). At the same time, he stressed the importance of maintaining the “360 degree” approach to countering the risks and threats emerging from all directions, in order to adequately defend the Alliance’s Southern Flank. He also referred to the multi-domain nature of modern threats that the Alliance must take into account, including the Cyberspace, Electromagnetic Spectrum and Space, in light of the new challenges posed by climate change and the energy crisis. He made particular reference to the importance of the resilience of critical infrastructure, as well as the coherence and unity that should characterise NATO decisions, based on the fundamental principles of the Alliance and international law.
Finally, during the last session, where the new “Political Guidance 2023” under preparation was discussed, Dr. Balomenos referred to the importance of harmonising the final text with the general spirit of the recently approved Strategic Concept of the Alliance and the decisions of the Madrid Summit. Furthermore, he stressed the dangers of a pervasive instability environment, which should be reflected in the new “Political Guidance 2023”, as they provide fertile ground for threats and challenges, such as violent extremism, criminal acts and the instrumentalisation of irregular migration.
