Greece's Defense Minister Nikos Dendias signed an agreement in London Friday to modernize Greece's military museums in partnership with Britain’s Imperial War Museum, while also urging the international community to prioritize the protection of children in conflict.
The memorandum of cooperation between the Athens War Museum and the Imperial War Museum will facilitate joint exhibitions, educational programs, research, and the exchange of best practices. It's part of Greece's broader effort to revamp the public presentation of its military history, particularly through its “Agenda 2030” defense reform.
“The Imperial War Museum will provide us with the know-how to showcase our exhibits and history in a way that resonates with today’s generation of Greeks,” Mr. Dendias said. He called the pact a “first step in a completely new approach,” adding that a future initiative aims to establish a Greek presence in Rimini, Italy, the site of historic WWII battles involving the Sacred Band, an elite Greek unit.
The memorandum was signed by the Athens War Museum’s chairman of the board, retired Air Marshal Konstantinos Karamesinis, and the Imperial War Museum’s director general and CEO, Caro Howell.
Greece’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr. Ioannis Tsaousis, and board representatives from both museums also attended.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Dendias met with Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in London. The highlight of his visit was a Thursday event organized by the Greek Embassy and the NGO “Together for Children,” titled "Our future matters: Protecting children in crisis situations. From struggle to strength."
“During war, it is always the innocent who suffer most — and there is no group more vulnerable than children,” Mr. Dendias said in a forceful address. “Conflict steals their homes, their education, their families — and tragically, too often, their lives.”
Calling it a moral and strategic obligation, Mr. Dendias stressed Greece’s commitment to international law and humanitarian principles, including its participation in peacekeeping missions and adherence to child protection standards in military operations.
He emphasized that governments, NGOs, civil society, and international institutions must collaborate to prevent child soldier recruitment and ensure access to education, healthcare, and psychosocial support. “Behind every statistic is a child with dreams, hopes, and a right to a peaceful future,” Mr. Dendias said.
Greece, recently elected for its third time as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, will use its position to raise global awareness about protecting children in conflict zones, he said.
Mr. Dendias also pledged to prioritize accountability for crimes against children in armed conflict and promote preventive and restorative justice through child-friendly legal mechanisms and international cooperation.
“The protection and promotion of children’s rights — and the elimination of all forms of violence and abuse against them, especially in conflict — remain fundamental to Greece’s values,” Mr. Dendias concluded.