The Defence Ministers of Greece and Cyprus met yesterday to discuss bolstering EU defence capabilities through the SAFE Programme. The talks also covered broader strategic challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean, shaped by the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
The two ministers appear compelled to focus on these issues, as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have fundamentally changed the way political decisions are made. Both conflicts have accelerated a global shift towards militarism, where power, security, and military deterrence often take precedence over diplomacy, international law, and humanitarian values.
This trend is visible on multiple levels:
Geopolitical: Europe is rearming at a pace not seen since the Cold War. NATO is expanding and redefining itself around the concept of deterrence. Russia has become an economy of war, while China, Japan, and India are dramatically increasing their defence spending.
Political: Rhetoric has shifted. Governments increasingly cite “national security” to justify restrictions or deviations from democratic norms. Military language - terms like “red lines,” “counterattack,” and “hybrid warfare”- have entered everyday political discourse.
Societal and cultural: Societies are increasingly equating security with military protection rather than cultural, social, or energy stability. Even in the media, the image of the soldier or drone has begun to replace that of the diplomat.
The concept of peace itself has shifted from “ceasefire and reconciliation” to “truce under terms of power,” with international dialogue now often revolving around who has the weapons rather than who has the right.
In short, the world, caught between two wars, is moving from an “international community” towards an “international camp,” where countries group themselves by military stance rather than shared values or political identity. This environment offers limited manoeuvring room, even for culturally rich but militarily smaller nations. Within this context, it is understandable that Ministers Dendias and Palmas had little choice but to focus on military and strategic topics in their discussion.