Ministry of National Defence (Greece)

Ministry of National Defence (Greece)
Name	Ministry of National Defence
Native name	Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας
Seal width	150
Seal caption	Coat of arms of the Hellenic Republic
Formed	1974 (as unified ministry)
Preceding1	Ministry of Military Affairs
Preceding2	Ministry of Naval Affairs
Jurisdiction	Government of Greece
Headquarters	Pentagon, Mesogeion Avenue, Athens
Minister1 name	Nikos Dendias
Minister1 pfo	Minister of National Defence
Chief1 name	Ioannis Kefalogiannis
Chief1 position	Alternate Minister
Chief2 name	Theodoros Karypidis
Chief2 position	Alternate Minister
Chief3 name	Ioannis Kefalogiannis
Chief3 position	Deputy Minister
Chief4 name	Dimitris Vitsas
Chief4 position	Deputy Minister
Chief5 name	Konstantinos Floros
Chief5 position	Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff
Website	www.mod.mil.gr

Contents

History
Organization
Responsibilities
Leadership
Budget and procurement
See also

Ministry of National Defence (Greece) is the government department responsible for the management and administration of the Hellenic Armed Forces. It oversees the Hellenic Army, the Hellenic Navy, and the Hellenic Air Force, formulating defence policy and coordinating national security. The ministry is headquartered in the Pentagon building in Athens and is a key institution within the NATO alliance and the European Union.

History

The modern ministry was established in 1974 following the Metapolitefsi and the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, unifying the previously separate Ministry of Military Affairs and Ministry of Naval Affairs. Its creation was part of a broader democratic reform of the Hellenic Armed Forces under the government of Konstantinos Karamanlis. The ministry's history is intertwined with major geopolitical events, including Greece's accession to NATO, tensions with Turkey over the Aegean dispute and Cyprus, and participation in international missions such as in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and under the United Nations. Key historical figures in its development include Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Defence Minister Evangelos Averoff.

Organization

The ministry is structured under the political leadership of the Minister of National Defence, currently Nikos Dendias, and includes several deputy and alternate ministers. The central administrative body is the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), led by General Konstantinos Floros, which commands the three service branches: the Hellenic Army General Staff, the Hellenic Navy General Staff, and the Hellenic Air Force General Staff. Other critical directorates include the Directorate of Defence Investments and Armaments and the Hellenic Coast Guard, which operates under the ministry's operational control. Key subordinate agencies are the Hellenic Aerospace Industry and the Hellenic Shipyards Co..

Responsibilities

The ministry's primary duty is the defence of the Hellenic Republic from external threats, particularly in the volatile Eastern Mediterranean region. It formulates national military strategy, oversees the operational readiness of the Hellenic Armed Forces, and manages international defence relations within NATO and the European Union. The ministry also coordinates Greece's participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, such as UNIFIL in Lebanon, and is responsible for civil protection, disaster response, and supporting the Hellenic Police in border security, especially in the Evros region. It plays a central role in major procurement programs like the acquisition of the Dassault Rafale and F-35 Lightning II.

Leadership

Political leadership is provided by the Minister of National Defence, a senior member of the cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister of Greece. The incumbent is Nikos Dendias, supported by Alternate Ministers Ioannis Kefalogiannis and Theodoros Karypidis, and Deputy Ministers Ioannis Kefalogiannis and Dimitris Vitsas. Military command and strategic advice are the purview of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros. Notable past ministers include Panos Kammenos, founder of the Independent Greeks party, and Spilios Spiliotopoulos. The leadership works closely with the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA), chaired by the Prime Minister.

Budget and procurement

The defence budget is a significant portion of the national state budget, guided by Greece's commitments to NATO spending targets. Recent budgets have focused on modernizing the Hellenic Armed Forces amidst regional tensions, funding major acquisitions such as the Belharra frigates from France, upgrades to the F-16 Viper fleet, and new Leopard 2A7 HEL tanks. The ministry manages procurement through the Directorate of Defence Investments and Armaments and cooperates with international partners like the United States Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Dassault Aviation. A portion of the budget is also allocated to domestic defence industry support, including the Hellenic Aerospace Industry and participation in the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium.