ATHENS – Greece must be able to prove it can defend its national interests, if it wants the role of security provider role in the region, Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said in an interview published on Saturday.

Speaking to ‘Parapolitika’ newspaper, Dendias said, “It is obvious that since Greece is claiming a role as provider of security in the wider region, it ought to prove by any means that it has the ability to defend its national interests. By defending its interests it also defends the specific role. If there is a capacity gap, someone else will step in to cover it. All you need to do is to read the plan for shipbuilding by our neighboring country to determine that.”

Among other issues, Dendias also spoke of domestic defense industry as “a critical pillar of national security.” The defense minister said such an industry “can contribute not just in raising employment, but in the greater research and development also, with the goal of creating high-quality and state-of-the-art technological products, along with boosting the self-sufficiency of our Armed Forces.”

All these, he noted, are part of a greater plan, “Armed Forces 2030″. Its purpose, Dendias said, was modernization at all levels and adjustment to demands of the times, combined with the deterrence capacity and with added value, wherever possible, to Greece’s economy.”