Greek Defence Minister Dendias underscores Balkan military cooperation at Thessaloniki summit

The 19th Conference of Chiefs of General Staff of the Balkan armed forces was held in Thessaloniki. Participants included Greece, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Bosnia‑Herzegovina, with Croatia and Slovenia observing. The summit’s theme was “Challenges and Innovation in Civil Protection: Adapting to New Realities of War.”

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said the meeting provides vital communication, de‑escalation and cooperation channels, especially in the geopolitically critical Balkans. He praised Hellenic National Defence General Staff chief General Dimitrios Choupis for organizing the event. General Choupis highlighted the need for open communication, mutual trust and coordinated action, noting that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East create security repercussions for the region. On the sidelines, a bilateral discussion between Turkish officials reinforced intentions to maintain good neighbourly relations under confidence‑building measures.