Greece’s defense chief Nikos Dendias is in the news as Athens boosts security ties and reacts to regional drone and security incidents. Born 1959, conservative New Democracy politician and lawyer.
On March 2, 2026, an Iranian-made drone struck the British RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, causing minor damage. The attack, linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, prompted Cyprus to seek military aid from France and Greece. The UK allowed US defensive strikes from its bases but denied offensive use. Cyprus is reconsidering the status of British bases amid rising regional tensions.
A Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicle found near Lefkada has been confirmed by Greek officials as Ukrainian-made. The craft, discovered May 7, has prompted Greece to alert the EU and to inspect the drone's metadata while dismantling it for analysis; investigators say it likely did not reach its target.