Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Larisa and the National Center for Air Operations on Saturday, emphasizing that “Greek women and men can trust the Armed Forces in the turbulent times we live in.” The “Achilles Shield” will provide absolute defensive security to our country, the prime minister added.
The prime minister, accompanied by Deputy Minister of National Defense Athanasios Davakis, Chief of General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis and Air Force Chief Air Vice Marshal Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, was briefed by Brigadier Theofanis Skafidas on the mission and work of the National Center for Air Operations.
He then visited the 337th Squadron, one of the most historic of the Air Force, and was briefed on its role in protecting Greek airspace. At the same time, he had the opportunity to talk with pilots about the missions they undertake as well as issues relating to their daily lives, focusing on the housing program for Armed Forces personnel, which aims to construct and modernize more than 17,000 homes in the coming years.
The final stop of the visit was the 337th Squadron headquarters, where Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited its museum and was briefed on its history, from its first aircraft, the historic Spitfires, to today when it has upgraded F-16 Vipers.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ statements from the National Center for Air Operations
Completing his visit, the Prime Minister stated: “I visited today the 110th Combat Wing and the National Center for Air Operations. I had the opportunity to observe, once again, the absolute operational readiness of the Armed Forces, the control of Greek airspace, and I want to send a message today here, from Larisa, that Greek women and men must trust the Armed Forces in these turbulent times in which we live.
Armed Forces personnel have proven that they possess not only excellent training but also operational readiness to meet every challenge, every difficulty and every order from the political leadership. Greece today provides security, not only to Cyprus but also to Bulgaria, and in this way we prove in practice that the significant investments made in the Armed Forces have paid off. I also want to emphasize that we are only at the beginning of a very important program to strengthen national air defense.
The ‘Achilles Shield’ is an ambitious program, which will provide absolute defensive security to our country against today’s challenges, but also against tomorrow’s challenges. Chief, Deputy Minister, I want through you to thank all personnel, the women and men of the Armed Forces. You have proven, once again, that every time the homeland needs you, you rise to the occasion.”
It is noted that the prime minister is in Larisa today for the third pre-congress of New Democracy. The pre-congress dialogue that will lead to the 16th Regular Congress of ND (to be held May 15-17 in Athens) continues in Larisa, with the theme “Strong Economy-Strong Greece.”
Entering the ND pre-congress in Larisa, Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with representatives from the agricultural sector, as he does in all rural areas he visits. Around 1 pm, the prime minister will discuss with a farmer, an IT systems engineer, the managing director of a startup company and the owner of a Greek company.
You can follow the discussion with Kyriakos Mitsotakis here:
