On Wednesday 19 June 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias went to Salamis Naval Base in order to visit the Frigate “PSARA” before it sails to the Red Sea to join the “ASPIDES” operation forces.
During his visit, Mr Dendias, accompanied by Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief/HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN and the Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet Vice Admiral Polychronis Koulouris HN, was briefed by the Captain of the Frigate on its mission.
Upon conclusion of the briefing, the Minister of National Defence addressed the Captain, the members and the crew of the Frigate, pointing out the following:
“Chief/HNDGS,
Chief/HNGS,
Commander in Chief of the Fleet,
Captain,
Members of the crew of the frigate “PSARA”,
The continuing situation in the Red Sea imposes, as you know, the continuation of the “ASPIDES” operation, the biggest military European operation ever executed; an Operation which besides its Greek name, is led by our country. We project our flag, we project the European flag and we project the European arm, which is absolutely necessary for our national interests.
Today you are sailing, you undertake the duty of the frigate “HYDRA”. You will be escorting the biggest commercial fleet of the planet. With your presence there, you stress the role of our Country, as a pillar of Security and Stability.
First, with gratitude, I would like to refer to the crew of the frigate “HYDRA”. It successfully completed its mission and, most importantly, it came back safely. I am not going to conceal the truth from you, you already know it. You are going to a risk area. Therefore, I wish you to return safely to the Homeland, after you have executed your duty.
I repeat, I have repeatedly explained, on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government, to the Greek society that your mission is not a “cruise mission”. It is a mission where each one of you is exposed to risk. You are doing it by executing the constitutional duty of the Armed Forces, which is the defence of the national interests.
I would like you to know that our wishes, our thoughts will accompany you during your mission. I will come to join you, as I did with the “HYDRA” in the Red Sea, probably accompanied by the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell.
I am absolutely convinced that you will show the professionalism, the zeal, the devotion to duty, the national pride which characterises the members of our Country’s Armed Forces.
I wish you good luck. I also wish you, from the bottom of my heart, to be safe, to come back to your families. May Saint Nikolaos be at the bow of “PSARA”.
Thank you”.
Concluding his visit to the Frigate “PSARA”, Mr Dendias gave the Captain the icon of the Patron Saint of the Navy, Saint Nikolaos, and wished the crew “good luck” in its mission.