Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias participated in the ADRION Defence Ministers' meeting on Monday in Venice.
In his speech, Dendias emphasized that the ADRION initiative exemplifies successful regional cooperation in critical areas such as maritime security and the interoperability of the naval forces of its member states. He highlighted that ADRION activities enhance the capabilities and mechanisms of its countries in addressing challenges and contribute to joint maritime surveillance, which is vital for security in the Mediterranean—a region crucial for broader European security, economic development, free trade, marine environmental protection and energy security.
Dendias also noted that the ADRION initiative is grounded in full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and sovereign rights of all states, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The meeting included participation from the Minister of Defence of Albania Pirro Vengu, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Croatia Drago Matavonic, the Minister of Defence of Italy Guido Crosetto, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Montenegro Marco Markovic and the Deputy Minister of Defence of Slovenia Damir Crncec. Greece holds the presidency of the initiative from June 2024 to May 2025.