Dendias stresses that NATO should defend core principles during minister summit

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias participated in the NATO Foreign Ministers Summit videoconference on Tuesday and stressed the importance of defending the core principles of the Alliance. While, the main focus of the videoconference was the preparatory groundwork for the upcoming Summit of NATO leaders held in June, the ministers also discussed the NATO2030 initiative, which seeks to adapt the Alliance to face existing and developing security challenges .

According to diplomatic sources available to Kathimerini, during the videoconference the minister stressed the need for NATO to defend the fundamental principles on which the Alliance was built on, especially in the light of recent challenges, including the grounding of a Ryanair flight by Belarus.

Dendias also stated that the Alliance must be ready to face new challenges in new areas and sectors, including climate change and the use of new technology by disruptive elements.

The same sources also shared that Dendias spoke of the need to maintain a dual approach to Russia as well as stressing the need to strengthen relations with other important international players, starting with India. The minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining stability and peace in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO troops from the country.

Finally, Dendias discussed the need to strengthen the strategic partnership of NATO with the European Union, without exclusions and with respect to the autonomy of each institution.