Greece’s ports and shipping positioned as NATO hub at Athens Defence Conference

The Athens Defence Conference, organized by the Economic Forum of Delphi together with the Greek Institute of European and Foreign Policy, examined Greece’s strategic role over the next 25 years in maritime transport, shipbuilding, ports and energy. Speakers highlighted how these assets will shape international geopolitical and economic balances and serve NATO and EU security needs in the Eastern Mediterranean.

German Ambassador Andreas Kintl stressed the importance of the EU Military Mobility plan and called Greek ports and infrastructure “critical for deterrence, defence and rapid force movement.” Norwegian Ambassador Harriet Elisabeth Berg pointed to the Norwegian model of public‑private cooperation for protecting vital sea‑borne and subsea facilities, noting Norway’s involvement in NATO mobility routes.

Greek industry leaders, including Miltiadis Varbatsis of Skaramagas Shipyards, urged the state to trust domestic shipyards for defence projects, arguing that each euro spent locally returns roughly 25 % to public finances. They warned that European shipbuilding’s global share has fallen from 55 % in 2000 to about 5 % today and called for a European restructuring plan. Arias Agatsa, chair of the conference, quoted: “Greece has evolved from a geographic border to an irreplaceable pillar of stability,” underscoring the shift of Greek ports from commercial hubs to strategic nodes.