The Athens Defence Conference is organized by the Delphi Economic Forum, in collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).
Within this framework, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Greece, Andreas Kindl, emphasized that military mobility and infrastructure are key priorities for Europe, noting that Germany is systematically investing in the interconnection of transport networks.
At the same time, he acknowledged Greece’s pivotal role in the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighting Germany’s long-standing presence in Greek ports and its particular interest in areas such as Crete and Larissa.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Greece, Harriet E. Berg, stressed the importance of protecting critical maritime and underwater infrastructure, emphasizing that modern ports must be prepared not only for physical but also for digital threats, such as cyberattacks.
She further highlighted the need for close cooperation between states, port authorities, the shipping industry, and technology companies, as well as the development of cross-border infrastructure.
The Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Skaramangas Shipyards, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, argued that the revival of the Greek shipbuilding industry can serve as a significant development driver for the country.
As he stated, greater trust from the Greek state in domestic production capabilities is required, noting that every euro invested in the Greek defense industry returns significant benefits to the economy and can finance new technological investments.
At the same time, he advocated for the return of shipbuilding to Europe through more cohesive European policies.
The Professor of International Relations and Security Studies at ELIAMEP, Panagiotis Tsakonas, highlighted Greece’s potential to evolve from a transit country into a strategic hub, leveraging its geographical advantages combined with political stability, the interconnection of ports with the hinterland, and the strengthening of resilience against hybrid threats.
For his part, Michalis Mathioulakis, an Energy Strategy Analyst and Academic Director of the Hellenic Energy Forum, pointed out that an energy infrastructure acquires real strategic value when it contributes to reducing a country’s dependence on third-party suppliers.
As he noted, Greek ports can play a decisive role in the energy sector, provided they combine capabilities in electricity, natural gas, oil, and other critical energy infrastructures.
The discussion was moderated by Ariadne Agatsa, President of the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).
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