New Greek Gvt.: Dendias’ wager

Kyriakos Mitsotakis proceeded with changes in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, in an attempt to create a triangle of balance. As part of the changes, Nikos Dendias is moving to the Ministry of National Defense. In fact, he is returning to the Ministry of Defense, after a number of years.

Yasar Guler

His position will aim to build ties with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Güler, but also to manage the situation created by the entry of ultra-nationalist forces into Parliament and the forces they could potentially unleash. Forces that could see the rise of said parties as an “opportunity”.

And given that the Confidence Building Measures, one of the official dialogue tables that has been on “ice” for some time, are being held within the framework of the Defense Ministries of the two countries, the tones between the two sides must remain low.

Control

Dendias is considered capable of controlling voices that could dynamite the climate and escape from the framework that Kyriakos Mitsotakis will set for Athens’ attitude towards Ankara and will concern both the movements of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Given that the climate between the two countries is different, but Turkey’s claims and Greece’s positions have not changed, the balance remains delicate.

Calm remains

With Athens having recognized the importance of the absence of overflights and violations for a number of months, on the part of Turkey, as well as the wider calm that prevails after the deadly earthquakes in the neighbor.

Dendias knows how to take a line and serve it, while – like the former Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos – he has repeatedly pointed out the need to take advantage of the dialogue window, as well as to keep a low profile.

Balances

In a period when the voices from the right are considered to try to impose a nationalist line and in relation to Greek-Turkish relations, it is estimated that he will be the one who will be able to make the necessary moves and at the same time maintain the necessary balances, through the rhetoric required by the Ministry of National Defense and the diplomatic experience he gained at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He has contacts abroad, which he built as head of Greek diplomacy in the previous Mitsotakis government, while if his move from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could be characterized as a necessity of the rotation, his new position was for many a one-way street in the government structure and the challenges in national issues.

Solutions or stagnation

It remains to be seen whether the Mitsotakis government will want to take steps and whether it will finally manage to implement them, in the direction of solutions and not just routine dialogue. And diplomats and analysts continue to warn of the dangers of stagnation.