Greece, despite being “on the front lines,” is today a completely safe country, assured the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, at the Athens Defense Conference organized by the Delphi Economic Forum in collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).
As the Minister noted, the country serves as a pillar of stability in a particularly volatile geopolitical region; however, international developments require constant vigilance and preparedness in the face of new forms of threats.
“Greece is on the front lines,” he said, “as there are many open fronts: the war in Ukraine to the north and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. We are the natural and political frontier of the West. We monitor the borders with physical forces and all technical means, so that entries from the perimeter of the fire into the interior are carried out in accordance with the rules.”
At the same time, he emphasized that “we are one of the safest countries in Europe and we control all movements and flows, both by land and sea,” also noting that “the fence on the Evros River is a defense project.”
Mr. Chrysochoidis expressed concern about a series of risks arising from armed conflicts, pointing out that the most important issue is what happens after the wars end.
“Wherever wars come to an end, the next phase involves the movement of weapons,” he noted, warning that it is certain that thousands of weapons will be moved in different directions, fueling new hotbeds of crime and instability. For this reason, he said, Europe must prepare in a timely manner and address these new challenges through coordinated action and close cooperation among member states.
He also made special mention of organized crime, which, as he noted, now operates on an international scale, trafficking not only weapons but also people and drugs. He pointed out that Greece, with one of Europe’s largest ports, is on the front lines of this effort, as the trafficking of cocaine and other illicit cargo requires a coordinated response plan and constant operational readiness.
He also emphasized that the Hellenic Police is working closely with international authorities, such as the DEA and Europol, as well as with the relevant agencies of the Gulf states, in order to combat international criminal networks and strengthen the exchange of information.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Chrysochoidis emphasized that current developments require constant vigilance and a high level of readiness. “The constant enemy of security is the lack of sustained vigilance and the lack of constant alertness. This must be the guiding principle of a country’s security strategy,” he stressed. Finally, the Minister noted that prevention and timely preparation are essential prerequisites for protecting the country and its citizens.
The discussion was moderated by ERT journalist and news anchor Adriana Paraskevopoulou.